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2026 World Cup Group L preview, predictions
2026 World Cup Group L preview, predictions
England will be on the short list of 2026 World Cup favorites, but standing in the way in Group L will be Croatia.
40-year-old Luka Modric — the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner after helping Croatia reach that year's World Cup final — is back for his fifth World Cup, and his Croatia squad figures to be a worthy challenger for England.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEngland, meanwhile, will be striving to win its first World Cup since 1966. Could England end its 60-year World Cup drought in the United States as the country celebrates its 250th birthday?
Here is a breakdown of Group L:
1930- Uruguay defeats Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup event held in Uruguay.
(AFP via Getty Images)1934- Italy over Czechoslovakia 2-1.
(Keystone, Getty Images)1938- Italy defeats Hungary 4-2. The World Cup would not be played again until 1950 because of the Second World War.
(AFP via Getty Images)1950- Uruguay wins it's second World Cup with a 2-1 win over Brazil.
(AFP via Getty Images)1954- Germany wins 3-2 over Hungary.
(Keystone, Getty Images)1958- Brazil celebrates by running with the flag of Sweden after defeating them 5-2.
(Keystone, Getty Images)1962- Brazil 3-1 over Czechoslovakia.
(Keystone, Getty Images)1966- England defeats Germany 4-2 in England.
(Keystone, Getty Images)1970- Brazil wins 4-1 over Italy in Mexico.
(Action Images / Sporting Picture via Reuters)1974- Germany wins at home in Munich over Netherlands, 2-1.
(AFP via Getty Images)1978- Argentina wins it's first World Cup 3-1 over Netherlands in Argentina.
(AFP via Getty Images)1982- Italy wins it's third championship over Germany 3-1.
(Action Images / Sporting Picture via Reuters)1986- Argentina wins over Germany 3-2.
(AFP via Getty Images)1990- Germany gets revenge on Argentina 1-0.
(Tom Szlukovenyi, Reuters)1994- Brazil defeats Italy 3-2 in penalties in Pasadena, Calif.
(MIKE NELSON, AFP via Getty Images)1998- France wins it's first cup over Brazil, 3-0.
(PATRICK HERTZOG, AFP via Getty Images)2002- Brazil defeats Germany, 2-0.
(ANTONIO SCORZA, AFP via Getty Images)2006- Italy beats France 5-3 in penalties.
(PATRIK STOLLARZ, AFP via Getty Images)2010- Spain defeats Netherlands 1-0 in South Africa.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)2018- France 4-2 over Croatia.
(ALEXANDER NEMENOV, AFP via Getty Images)2022- Argentina wins it's third World Cup defeating France 4-2 in penalties.
(ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT, AFP via Getty Images)Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
2022- Argentina wins it's third World Cup defeating France 4-2 in penalties.
(ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT, AFP via Getty Images)World Cup Group L teams
Croatia doesn't get mentioned enough in "World Cup favorites" conversations, but the squad with the iconic checkerboard jerseys is a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. Croatia was World Cup runner-up in 2018 and finished third in Qatar in 2022. In addition, Croatia was a finalist in the 2023 UEFA Nations League competition. Winning a trophy has been elusive, but it's a safe bet Croatia will be a thorn in the side of Group L favorite England, and then a tough out in the knockout stages.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKey players: Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić, Luka Modrić
Will fans of the Three Lions be singing "Football's coming home" all the way to the final on July 19? Playing in the U.S. will be a near home-field experience for England, which has a strong fan following in America. Can the team parlay that support — coupled with a talented squad — into finally getting over the top? It's been 60 years since England's lone World Cup triumph, and anything short of a title this summer will be considered a disappointment.
Key players: Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka
Ghana has been a regular at the World Cup, having qualified for five of the last six tournaments after first playing in the World Cup in 2006. Despite being one of Africa's most consistent squads on the international stage, Ghana opted for chaos before the 2026 World Cup. The team sacked coach Otto Addo just 78 days before the start of the World Cup, replacing him with Carlos Queiroz in a hire announced on April 13.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKey players: Mohammed Kudus, Antoine Semenyo, Iñaki Williams
Panama is making just its second World Cup appearance after finishing in 32nd place (out of 32 teams) at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Los Canaleros face a tough task in Group L, but enter the World Cup after going unbeaten in Concacaf qualifying.
Key players: Adalberto "Coco" Carrasquilla, Ismael Díaz, Anibal Godoy
World Cup Group L schedule
England vs. Croatia - Dallas, 4 p.m. ET - Fox
Ghana vs. Panama - Toronto, 7 p.m. ET - FS1
England vs. Ghana - Boston, 4 p.m. ET - Fox
Panama vs. Croatia - Toronto, 7 p.m. ET - Fox
Panama vs. England - New York/New Jersey, 5 p.m. ET - Fox
Croatia vs. Ghana - Philadelphia, 5 p.m. ET - FS1
World Cup Group L prediction
Predicted order of finish:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 World Cup Group L: Preview, predictions, schedule