2026 World Cup Group L: England and Croatia Lead Star-Studded Lineup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L features four nations with vastly different tournament pedigrees, headlined by established European powers England and Croatia alongside African representatives Ghana and CONCACAF's Panama.

England enters as the group favorite, ranked fourth in the FIFA standings with 17 World Cup appearances dating back to 1950. The Three Lions boast an impressive group-stage record of 33 wins, 22 draws, and 20 losses, anchored by their 1966 championship victory. England has maintained eight consecutive World Cup appearances from 1998 through 2026. The team features prolific scorers in Harry Kane and Gary Lineker, who share the all-time England World Cup scoring record with 10 goals each.

Croatia, ranked 11th globally, represents Europe's second-strongest contender in the group after reaching the 2018 World Cup final. The Vatreni have appeared in seven World Cups since their debut in 1998, with four consecutive tournaments from 2014 onward. Despite a 13-8-10 group-stage record, Croatia has achieved a remarkable feat by avoiding group-stage defeats in their last two World Cup appearances. Davor Suker stands as the nation's leading World Cup scorer with six goals, including all six tallied during the 1998 tournament.

Ghana and Panama round out the group as challengers hoping to upset the established heavyweights. Ghana, ranked 73rd, brings experience from five World Cups and a notable quarterfinal run in 2010, though the team carries the painful memory of Asamoah Gyan's missed penalty in that tournament's quarterfinal shootout. Panama, ranked 34th, makes only its second World Cup appearance after 2018, seeking improvement on their winless four-match debut record. The group promises competitive matches between disparate quality levels, with England and Croatia likely to contest for first place.