2026 FIFA World Cup draw – Who will England play in the group stage?

England, the 1966 World Cup winners, met their opponents in the group stage for the 2026 World Cup during the draw, which took place on Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

The Three Lions have been drawn in Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will open the campaign against 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia on June 17.

Who are England’s opponents at the 2026 World Cup?

“Difficult opener with Croatia and Ghana, two World Cup regulars and two proud, strong countries,” England manager Thomas Tuchel told the BBC. BBC.

«Panama I don’t know much about at the moment but we will find out more before the tournament starts. For me I have only experienced group football in Champions League format and the way to approach it was to give it the utmost respect and put all the focus on winning the group.»

“It always seems difficult, but we are confident and will be well prepared when we arrive.”

The World Cup, which started in 1930 as an invitation-only tournament, has grown from just 13 to 32 teams, becoming the biggest competition in international football. Next year’s World Cup will have a larger roster – 48 teams – making it the largest iteration of the tournament.

The FIFA World Cup will be held between June 11 and July 19 in 16 cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle (USA); Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey (Mexico) and Toronto and Vancouver (Canada).

The final will be played at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

Published on December 6, 2025