Team profile
World Cup Group L betting preview and free tips
England are favourites to win Group L at the FIFA World Cup, with Thomas Tuchel’s side priced at 1.29 to top a section also featuring Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
England are expected to qualify comfortably for the Round of 32 with international betting sites, but this group has plenty of intrigue behind the favourites.
Croatia bring elite tournament experience through Luka Modric, Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, Ghana have enough pace and power to threaten an upset, while Panama arrive for just their second World Cup after going unbeaten through qualifying.
MORE: World Cup 2026
England are the clear favourites to win Group L at 1.29 and will carry serious hopes of ending their 60-year wait for a second World Cup title. Harry Kane remains the focal point, Jude Bellingham gives them world-class midfield quality, Bukayo Saka brings threat from wide areas and Declan Rice has been named vice-captain by Tuchel.
Croatia are second favourites to top the group at 5.00 and look the obvious danger. Zlatko Dalic’s side finished runners-up in 2018 and third in 2022, and this could be the final World Cup for 40-year-old Modric after another extraordinary international cycle.
Ghana are priced at 9.00 to win Group L and will hope to reach the knockout stages for the first time since their famous run to the quarter-finals in 2010. The Black Stars have attacking quality through Antoine Semenyo, Inaki Williams and Jordan Ayew, but injuries and defensive depth remain concerns.
Panama are outsiders at 41.00 to win Group L, but Thomas Christiansen has built a disciplined and experienced squad. Adalberto Carrasquilla, Anibal Godoy, Amir Murillo and Ismael Diaz give Los Canaleros a strong core, although this is one of the toughest groups they could have drawn.
Lets take a deep dive into each Group L team’s prospects, including their captains, coaches, past World Cup results, predicted lineups and much more.
Group L Squads
🏴 England
- Manager: Thomas Tuchel
- Captain: Harry Kane
- Group L winner odds: 1.29
- Qualify Group L odds: 1.01
England arrive in North America as one of the tournament favourites after a flawless qualifying campaign under Tuchel. The Three Lions won all eight matches and conceded no goals, giving them a more controlled and compact base than they have often had at major tournaments. Kane remains the captain and main goalscorer, while Bellingham is now one of the most complete midfielders in world football. Rice has been named vice-captain, Saka remains a major threat from wide areas, and the likes of Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze, Elliot Anderson and Kobbie Mainoo give Tuchel fresh options. England have enough talent to top Group L, but the real test will be whether they can keep their composure when the knockout rounds arrive.
- Confederation: UEFA
- Best World Cup: Champions (1966)
- World Cup qualifications: 17
- Overall World Cup record: P74 W35 D22 L17 F107 A71
- How they qualified: England won all eight UEFA qualifying matches and conceded no goals.
- Predicted lineup: Pickford; James, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane.
- Squad: Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford.
Defenders: Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence, Tino Livramento.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke.
🇭🇷 Croatia
- Manager: Zlatko Dalic
- Captain: Luka Modric
- Group L winner odds: 5.00
- Qualify Group L odds: 1.13
Croatia remain one of international football’s great tournament sides. Dalic’s team reached the 2018 World Cup final, finished third in Qatar four years later and continue to punch above their weight through experience, tactical intelligence and composure under pressure. Modric is now 40 and set for his fifth World Cup, but he remains the emotional and technical reference point for the squad. Gvardiol gives Croatia elite defensive quality, Kovacic is vital in midfield and young defender Luka Vuskovic could be one of their breakout players after a strong season in the Bundesliga. Croatia may be ageing, but they are rarely overwhelmed on the big stage and should be England’s biggest threat for top spot.
- Confederation: UEFA
- Best World Cup: Runners-up (2018)
- World Cup qualifications: Seven
- Overall World Cup record: P29 W14 D5 L10 F43 A33
- How they qualified: Croatia topped their UEFA qualifying group with seven wins and one draw.
- Predicted lineup: Livakovic; Stanisic, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Marco Pasalic, Kovacic, Modric, Perisic; Petar Sucic, Kramaric; Budimir.
- Squad: Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic, Dominik Kotarski, Ivor Pandur.
Defenders: Josko Gvardiol, Duje Caleta-Car, Josip Sutalo, Josip Stanisic, Marin Pongracic, Martin Erlic, Luka Vuskovic.
Midfielders: Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic, Luka Sucic, Martin Baturina, Kristijan Jakic, Petar Sucic, Nikola Moro, Toni Fruk.
Forwards: Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Ante Budimir, Marco Pasalic, Petar Musa, Igor Matanovic.
🇬🇭 Ghana
- Manager: Carlos Queiroz
- Captain: Jordan Ayew
- Group L winner odds: 9.00
- Qualify Group L odds: 2.50
Ghana return to the World Cup with a mixture of optimism and uncertainty. The Black Stars won their qualifying group with eight wins, one draw and one defeat, but their failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the year shows there is still volatility around the squad. Queiroz was appointed in April after Otto Addo’s departure and has had limited time to reshape the team. Mohammed Kudus’ absence is a major blow, while Ghana also look a little short of elite depth at the back. Even so, Semenyo, Inaki Williams, Ernest Nuamah, Jordan Ayew and Thomas Partey give Ghana enough quality and athleticism to trouble opponents. Their opening match against Panama may decide whether they can genuinely challenge Croatia for second place.
- Confederation: CAF
- Best World Cup: Quarter-finals (2010)
- World Cup qualifications: Five
- Overall World Cup record: P12 W4 D3 L5 F16 A18
- How they qualified: Ghana won their CAF qualifying group with eight wins, one draw and one defeat.
- Predicted lineup: Ati-Zigi; Seidu, Adjetey, Opoku, Baba Rahman; Partey, Sibo; Williams, Nuamah, Semenyo; Ayew.
- Squad: Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Joseph Anang.
Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya, Alidu Seidu, Abdul Mumin, Jerome Opoku, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Derrick Luckassen.
Midfielders: Elisha Owusu, Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Augustine Boakye, Caleb Yirenkyi, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
Forwards: Kamal Deen Sulemana, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Ernest Nuamah, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Prince Kwabena Adu, Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew.
🇵🇦 Panama
- Manager: Thomas Christiansen
- Captain: Anibal Godoy
- Group L winner odds: 41.00
- Qualify Group L odds: 4.00
Panama are making only their second World Cup appearance after their debut campaign in Russia in 2018. Christiansen’s side went unbeaten through qualifying and have become one of the more awkward teams in CONCACAF, with a compact shape, strong defensive habits and plenty of experience. Carrasquilla is the creative heartbeat, Godoy provides leadership in midfield, Murillo is one of their most reliable performers and Diaz gives them an attacking outlet. Panama’s biggest challenge is clear: they lack the attacking depth and individual quality of the other three teams. Even so, they should be organised enough to make games difficult, especially if Ghana fail to take control of their opening match in Toronto.
- Confederation: CONCACAF
- Best World Cup: Group stage (2018)
- World Cup qualifications: Two (2018, 2026)
- Overall World Cup record: P3 W0 D0 L3 F2 A11
- How they qualified: Panama progressed through CONCACAF qualifying without losing a match.
- Predicted lineup: Mejia; Cordoba, Escobar, Andrade; Murillo, Carrasquilla, Godoy, Davis; Londono, Diaz; Fajardo.
- Squad: Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera, Luis Mejia, Cesar Samudio.
Defenders: Cesar Blackman, Jorge Gutierrez, Amir Murillo, Fidel Escobar, Andres Andrade, Edgardo Farina, Jose Cordoba, Eric Davis, Jiovany Ramos, Roderick Miller.
Midfielders: Anibal Godoy, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Carlos Harvey, Cristian Martinez, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Cesar Yanis, Yoel Barcenas, Alberto Quintero, Azarias Londono.
Forwards: Ismael Diaz, Cecilio Waterman, Jose Fajardo, Tomas Rodriguez.
Group L teams, match-ups and betting preview
Teams: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
World Cup Group L Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Arena |
|---|---|---|---|
| England vs Croatia | June 17, 2026 | 4pm | AT&T Stadium |
| Ghana vs Panama | June 17, 2026 | 7pm | BMO Field |
| England vs Ghana | June 23, 2026 | 4pm | Gillette Stadium |
| Panama vs Croatia | June 23, 2026 | 7pm | BMO Field |
| Panama vs England | June 27, 2026 | 5pm | MetLife Stadium |
| Croatia vs Ghana | June 27, 2026 | 5pm | Lincoln Financial Field |
🏴 England v 🇭🇷 Croatia
(A heavyweight opener that could decide top spot in Group L)
England’s opening match against Croatia is the clear game of the group. The memory of Croatia’s extra-time win in the 2018 World Cup semi-final still gives this fixture extra edge, and both teams will know that victory in Arlington could put them in control of the section. England have the stronger squad on paper, more pace in wide areas and Kane’s finishing through the middle. Croatia have the tournament know-how, midfield control and defensive calm to frustrate them. If England win, they may not look back. If Croatia take something, Group L becomes far more interesting. England beat Croatia twice in 2018 in the UEFA Nations League following the World Cup, while they also defeated them in the UEFA Champions League in 2021, their most recent encounter.
🇬🇭 Ghana v 🇵🇦 Panama
(A likely battle to stay alive in the race for a knockout place)
These two nations have never played before and both Ghana and Panama both need a strong start because England and Croatia await later in the group. Ghana have more attacking quality and should carry the greater threat through Semenyo, Williams and Ayew, but Panama are disciplined enough to make this uncomfortable if they can slow the tempo and protect central areas. Carrasquilla’s ability to move the ball through midfield will be crucial for Panama, while Ghana must avoid leaving space in transition. A Ghana win would immediately put pressure on Croatia. A draw would suit the favourites.
🏴 England v 🇬🇭 Ghana
(England’s attacking depth against Ghana’s pace and power)
England will expect to dominate the ball against Ghana, but this is exactly the kind of match where the Black Stars can be dangerous if they stay compact and counter at speed. Rice and Bellingham will need to control midfield and prevent Ghana from breaking through Partey, while England’s wide players should test Ghana’s full-backs. Semenyo’s power and direct running make him Ghana’s most obvious outlet, but England have enough depth and defensive structure under Tuchel to control long spells of the match. These two nations have only played once before, way back in 2011, with it ending in a 1-1 draw.
🇵🇦 Panama v 🇭🇷 Croatia
(Croatia’s composure against Panama’s compact defensive structure)
Croatia should control possession and territory, but Panama are not a team that will roll over. Christiansen’s side are experienced, physical and comfortable defending in numbers, which means Croatia may need patience to create chances. Modric and Kovacic should dictate the rhythm, while Gvardiol’s ability to carry the ball out from defence could help Croatia break Panama’s first line. Panama’s best route is likely through set-pieces and quick counters, but Croatia’s tournament experience should give them the edge. These two countries have never clashed before.
🇵🇦 Panama v 🏴 England
(Panama face another difficult World Cup test against the Three Lions)
England beat Panama 6-1 at the 2018 World Cup, but this version of Panama is more experienced and should be better equipped to compete. Even so, the gap in individual quality is significant. England should be able to rotate without losing too much control, and their depth in attack could become decisive if Panama are forced to defend for long periods. For Panama, the priority will be staying compact, avoiding an early goal and using Godoy and Carrasquilla to slow England’s rhythm.
🇭🇷 Croatia v 🇬🇭 Ghana
(A potential decider for second place in Philadelphia)
This could be the decisive match in the race behind England. Croatia will bring control, patience and big-game experience, while Ghana have the athleticism to make the game uncomfortable if they can turn it into an open contest. Modric and Kovacic should give Croatia the midfield edge, but Ghana’s wide pace and direct running can cause problems if Croatia’s ageing legs are forced to defend large spaces. If Ghana arrive with three points already secured against Panama, this final match could become one of the most important games of the group stage. Croatia and Ghana have clashed twice before, with both 2022, with Croatia winning 4-3, before a 0-0 draw was played out a week later.
World Cup Group L prediction & best bets
England are the best team in Group L and deserve to be clear favourites. Tuchel has made them more compact without taking away the attacking talent that makes them dangerous, and a squad built around Kane, Bellingham, Rice, Saka and Pickford should have enough firepower and experience to top the section.
Croatia look the obvious side to follow them through. Dalic’s team have been written off before and repeatedly responded with deep tournament runs. Their age profile is a concern, but their composure, midfield experience and defensive quality should be enough to finish above Ghana and Panama.
Ghana have the pace and power to make things interesting, especially if they beat Panama in their opener, but defensive concerns and the absence of Kudus make it difficult to tip them ahead of Croatia. Panama are organised and experienced, but they may struggle to score enough goals in such a demanding group.
England to win Group L at 1.29
England and Croatia both to qualify from Group L with football betting sites.
