England at the 2026 World Cup

Group L · fixtures, route and how to watch every game free

England arrive at the 2026 World Cup as one of the favourites, carrying the familiar weight of expectation that comes with reaching the previous two major tournament finals without quite getting over the line. The expanded 48-team format gives them a Group L draw that, on paper, looks navigable – but as every England fan knows, "on paper" is where heartbreak is printed.

England's group

England were drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama.

• Croatia are the dangerous one: a tournament-hardened side and recent World Cup semi-finalists, still capable of controlling a game through midfield even as their golden generation ages.
• Ghana bring pace, power and Premier League familiarity, and will see this as a winnable game against anyone on their day.
• Panama are the outsiders, organised and physical, the kind of side England must simply be professional against.

England's fixtures and TV channels

Every game is free to watch – see our how to watch guide for the streaming and radio details. You can add all three fixtures to your phone's calendar, with a one-hour reminder, from the Fun tab on our home page.

The route to the final

In the new format, the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams reach a Round of 32. Win Group L and England's knockout path runs through the Round of 32 (28 June–3 July), the Round of 16, the quarter-finals, and a semi-final on 14 or 15 July, before the final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on 19 July. Three of England's potential knockout games, should they progress, are earmarked for the BBC. Our printable wallchart maps the entire bracket.

What to expect

England's strength is an embarrassment of attacking riches and genuine match-winners in the final third; the perennial questions are about balance, tempo and whether the team can impose itself on the better sides rather than waiting for moments of individual quality. A favourable group should mean topping it, and a deep run is the realistic expectation. Whether that ends in a first men's World Cup since 1966 or another near-miss is, as ever, the entire point of watching.