Group L brings together England — perennial underperformers but a genuine contender with one of the best squads in their history — alongside Croatia, who eliminated England at the 2018 semi-final. Ghana make their fourth World Cup appearance. Panama qualify as CONCACAF co-hosts, bringing home support and motivation on North American soil.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England

England won their only World Cup in 1966 on home soil, beating West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley. Despite consistently producing world-class players, they have not gone beyond the quarter-finals since that victory. The current generation featuring Bellingham, Saka and Foden is the most technically gifted in decades and carries enormous expectation.

🇭🇷 Croatia

Croatia are remarkable overachievers for a nation of 4 million people. They finished third on their World Cup debut in 1998, reached the final in 2018 and finished third again in 2022. Luka Modric remains one of the finest midfielders of all time and will be determined to end his career with the World Cup medal that has just eluded him.

🇬🇭 Ghana

Ghana were the last African nation to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup, achieving it in 2010 before losing to Uruguay in a match infamous for Luis Suarez's goal-line handball. Their squad features players from the Premier League who represent a new generation of Ghanaian football talent building toward something significant.

🇵🇦 Panama

Panama made their World Cup debut in 2018, scoring their first ever World Cup goal against England in a match that sparked nationwide celebrations. As co-hosts in 2026, they will have home fans for the first time on the world stage, giving them a genuine opportunity to create history in front of their own people.