England have learned who they will be playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s group stage and the potential venues
Everything you need to know about England’s 2026 FIFA World cup matches…
- Group Opponents & Draw: England has learned its group opponents for the 2026 World Cup after the draw was officially conducted in Washington DC. The Three Lions have been placed into Group L, where they will face Croatia, Panama, and Ghana.
- Croatia Rivalry: Their opening match will be a highly-anticipated rematch against Croatia, who previously knocked England out of the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. This history adds a layer of competitive intensity to the first fixture of their 2026 campaign.
- Tournament Structure & Seeding: The 2026 tournament will feature an expanded 48-nation field, making it the largest World Cup to date. England was placed in Pot 1 for the draw, signifying their high ranking among the competing nations.
- First Match Details (Croatia): England is scheduled to face Croatia on June 17, marking the start of their Group L fixtures. The exact venue for this game is still to be finalized, with BMO Field in Toronto or AT&T Stadium in Arlington being the two possibilities.
- Second Match Details (Ghana): The second group match will see England take on Ghana on June 23, presenting a potential challenge from the African side. This fixture could be held at either BMO Field in Toronto or Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
- Final Match Details (Panama): The team will conclude their group stage matches on June 27 against Panama, who are generally considered a lower-ranked opponent. Possible locations for this game include MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford or Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
- Favourable Knockout Path: Due to their Pot 1 seeding, England has secured a potentially favorable route deep into the knockout rounds. They are projected to avoid major contenders like Argentina, Spain, or France until at least the semi-finals, provided all top teams win their groups.
- Fixture Confirmation: While the general dates and opponents are known, the definitive kick-off times and final venues for all three matches are not yet confirmed. A complete schedule detailing these final specifics is expected to be officially announced at 5 pm GMT on the day following the draw.
