England are in Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. Thomas Tuchel’s side open their campaign against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on June 17, a fixture with enormous historical significance given Croatia’s semi-final victory over England in 2018. All three group stage matches, their potential knockout path, and everything else you need to know about England’s schedule is here.
England’s Group L Opponents
England face Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in the group stage. Croatia are the 2018 runners-up. Ghana are a young, talented side with Premier League-based players throughout. Panama are disciplined and organised. England are the clear favourites to win Group L.
England’s Group Stage Fixtures
Match 1: England vs Croatia
Date: Wednesday June 17, 2026
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Kick-off: 4:00pm ET / 9:00pm BST
The tournament opener for both sides. Croatia beat England 2-1 in the 2018 World Cup semi-final. This is the rematch that England fans have been waiting for. AT&T Stadium holds 80,000 and will have a significant English fan presence. Tuchel’s 4-2-3-1 against Modric’s final World Cup is the defining narrative of the group stage.
Match 2: England vs Ghana
Date: Tuesday June 23, 2026
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Kick-off: 4:00pm ET / 9:00pm BST
England’s second group game moves them to the northeast of the United States. Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, holds 65,000. Ghana have the quality to cause problems if England are complacent. Kane and Bellingham need to be sharp from the start.
Match 3: Panama vs England
Date: Friday June 27, 2026
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kick-off: 5:00pm ET / 10:00pm BST
England’s final group game is at the same stadium as the World Cup final. MetLife Stadium holds 82,500. Kane scored a hat-trick against Panama at the 2018 World Cup. England should be through to the knockout rounds by this point and may rotate.
England’s Knockout Path
England and France are in separate bracket pathways, meaning they cannot meet before the semi-finals at the earliest. As Group L winners, England’s Round of 32 match is scheduled for June 30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Their potential Route to the Final is as follows.
Round of 32: Group L winners vs best third-place team — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta — June 30
Round of 16: Winner of their bracket section — Venue TBC — July 4 to 7
Quarter-Final: Venue TBC — July 9 or 10
Semi-Final: MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey — July 14
Final: MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey — July 19
England’s Key Players to Watch
Harry Kane — The England captain and all-time leading scorer with 78 international goals. His 58-goal club season at Bayern Munich makes him the Golden Boot favourite alongside Mbappe. Kane scored twice against Panama in 2018 and will be targeting a big group stage tally.
Jude Bellingham — The 22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder is England’s most complete attacking threat. His ability to score from deep, his physical presence, and his tournament mentality make him England’s most important player after Kane.
Declan Rice — The Arsenal holding midfielder is England’s defensive foundation. His pressing intensity, his goal threat from deep, and his leadership give England a structural backbone that previous England squads lacked.
Bukayo Saka — England’s most consistent tournament performer over the last four years. His directness from the right and his mental resilience after Euro 2020 make him one of the most important players in the squad.
England’s World Cup History
England won the World Cup once, in 1966, at Wembley Stadium. They have reached three semi-finals since: 1990 in Italy, 2018 in Russia, and 2024 at the Euros where they lost in the final. The 60-year wait for a second major trophy ends either in July 2026 or continues. This squad, under Tuchel, believes it can end it.
Sources: ESPN, NBC Sports
