England will open their 2026 World Cup campaign with a rematch of the 2018 semi-final against Croatia after being placed in Group L. They will also face Panama, who they beat 6-1 in Russia, and Ghana, a team they have never previously met at a World Cup. Group fixtures will be spread across five host cities: Dallas, Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia and Toronto, with schedules to be confirmed.
Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the challenge ahead: “Difficult group, difficult opener. Croatia and Ghana are strong World Cup regulars. We’ll learn more about Panama before the tournament starts.”
Scotland also drew a high-profile group and will meet Brazil, Morocco and Haiti in Group C — a nod back to 1998 when they last faced Brazil on football’s biggest stage.
One of the toughest pools appears to be Group I, featuring France, Senegal, Erling Haaland’s Norway and an international playoff winner. Hosts USA will play Australia, Paraguay and a European playoff winner.
If England top their group, they will meet a third-placed team in the last 32, with a potential knockout route that could include Group A winners, a possible quarter-final with Brazil, and — due to revised seeding rules — a semi-final showdown with Argentina.
Croatia remain dangerous despite their fading golden generation — Luka Modrić and Ivan Perišić are now 40 and 36 — but England did beat them at Euro 2021. Ghana have slipped since their 2010 quarter-final run but boast Premier League talent in Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo. Panama enter ranked 30th in the world and unbeaten through two qualifying rounds.
The draw concluded a glitzy event in Washington DC, which lasted over two hours and featured a new FIFA peace prize awarded to Donald Trump, accepted as “one of the great honours of my life.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino was ever-present on stage, also participating in a scripted segment with Rio Ferdinand.
With 48 teams competing for the first time, and playoff slots still unfilled, the tournament is set to be the biggest — and one of the most unpredictable — World Cups yet.
