Group L at the 2026 World Cup: England Stands as the Clear Favorite

2026 FIFA World Cup

According to Главком: The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11, 2026, bringing together the four teams of Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. This article breaks down squad details, coaching staff, qualification results, and expert predictions for each side.

Group L Teams

• England, winners of the 1966 World Cup on home soil, have posted strong performances in recent tournaments. They reached the semifinals in 2018 but fell short in the European Championship finals of 2020 and 2024. At the 2022 World Cup, England exited in the quarterfinals. Under new manager Thomas Tuchel, who took over in early 2025, the team delivered an impeccable qualifying campaign: 8 wins in 8 matches, 22 goals scored, and none conceded. Harry Kane topped the qualifying group as the leading scorer with 8 goals. However, the team suffered friendly losses to Senegal and Japan.

  England employs a 4-2-3-1 formation at the tournament. Kane, who won the 2026 Golden Boot, netted 36 goals in the Bundesliga along with 25 goals across the German Champions League, DFB-Pokal, and Supercup campaigns. The squad also features forwards Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, while Declan Rice created 16 scoring chances and provided 4 assists during qualification.

• Croatia is competing in their fourth consecutive World Cup under Zlatko Dalić, building on a track record of deep runs: silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022. They won 7 of 8 qualifiers, securing their spot with a six-point cushion. Andrej Kramarić led the team with 6 goals, and Ivan Perišić added 4.

  The roster spans generations, from 40-year-old Luka Modrić to 22-year-old Petar Sučić and 19-year-old Luka Vušković. Croatia uses a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Petar Musa-who scored 12 goals in 13 MLS matches-also playing a key role.

• Ghana underwent a late coaching change, dismissing Otto Addo just two months before the World Cup and appointing Carlos Queiroz. Queiroz has managed at four World Cups but advanced past the group stage only once, with Portugal in 2010. Ghana lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. A key player is Antoine Semenyo, who joined Manchester City in the winter of 2026 and recorded 11 goals and 3 assists in 27 club appearances.

• Panama is making only their second World Cup appearance, having lost all three matches in 2018-including a 6-1 defeat to England. Manager Thomas Christiansen took over in 2020. In 2023, Panama reached the Gold Cup final, and in the 2024/25 season they lost the CONCACAF Nations League final to Mexico. Christiansen alternates between 3-4-3 and 4-5-1 formations depending on the opponent.

  Adalberto Carrasquilla, who plays for Mexico's Pumas, logged 40 matches last season, scoring 2 goals and providing 7 assists.

According to Opta Analyst, England has a 95.99% probability of advancing to the knockout stage, with an expected points total of 6.58. Ghana is projected at 2.99 points, and Panama at 2.56. This underscores England's status as the overwhelming group favorite, while the other three teams will battle for the remaining spot.

Opta Analyst

Group L promises intense competition. England, with its deep squad and confident manager, appears poised for success. Croatia, drawing on tournament experience, could emerge as a serious contender. Ghana and Panama face significant challenges but will aim to make their mark on the global stage. Each team brings distinct strengths that could shape the group's outcome.

As England prepares to face formidable opponents in Group L, the spotlight also shines on Croatia, who have announced their squad for the tournament. With experienced players like Luka Modrić and promising talents such as Joško Gvardiol, the Croatian team is poised to make a significant impact. For a deeper look at Croatia's lineup and their World Cup aspirations, check out the full details in our article on Croatia's World Cup squad announcement.