The 2026 World Cup group stage is divided into 12 groups of four teams each.
Here are key facts about Group L.
Group L
England (ENG)
Nicknames(s): The Three Lions
FIFA World Ranking: 4th
Appearances: 17 (1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Active Consecutive Appearances: Eight (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Best Finish: Champions (1966)
Record (W-D-L): 37-23-21
Top Scorer: Harry Kane, 14
Top Scorer in Single Tournament: Jude Bellingham (2026) with seven
Oldest Scorer: Tom Finney, 36 years, 64 days (1958 vs. Soviet Union)
Youngest Scorer: Michael Owen, 18 years, 190 days (1998 vs. Romania)
Fact: Geoff Hurst was the first to score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final (1966 vs. West Germany); there has only been one other men's World Cup Final hat-trick, Kylian Mbappé in 2022.
Croatia (CRO)
Nicknames(s): Vatreni (Blazers), Kockasti (Checkered Ones)
FIFA World Ranking: 11th
Appearances: Seven (1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Active Consecutive Appearances: Four (2014, 2018, 2022, 2026)
Best Finish: Runner up (2018)
Record (W-D-L): 15-8-11
Top Scorer: Ivan Perisic, seven
Top Scorer in Single Tournament: Davor Suker, six (1998)
Oldest Scorer: Ivan Perisic, 37 years, 150 days (2026 vs. Portugal)
Youngest Scorer: Josko Gvardiol, 20 years, 328 days (2022 vs. Morocco)
Fact: Croatia has not lost a Group Stage match in their previous two World Cup appearances, the only team from the last two tournaments to do so.
Ghana (GHA)
Nicknames(s): The Black Stars
FIFA World Ranking: 73rd
Appearances: Five (2006, 2010, 2014, 2022, 2026)
Active Consecutive Appearances: Two (2022, 2026)
Best Finish: Quarterfinals (2010)
Record (W-D-L): 6-4-9
Top Scorer: Asamoah Gyan, six
Top Scorer in Single Tournament: Asamoah Gyan (2010), three
Oldest Scorer: Andre Ayew, 32 years, 342 days (2022 vs. Portugal)
Youngest Scorer: Haminu Draman, 20 years, 82 days (2006 vs. USA)
Fact: Ghana's quarterfinal finish in 2010 ended in heartbreak as Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty in stoppage time of Extra Time after Luis Suárez was sent off for a handball on the line. Ghana would lose the eventual shootout.
Panama (PAN)
Nicknames(s): Los Canaleros (The Canal Men), La Marea Roja (The Red Tide)
FIFA World Ranking: 34th
Appearances: Two (2018, 2026)
Active Consecutive Appearances: One (2026)
Best Finish: Group stage (2018, 2026)
Record (W-D-L): 0-0-6
Top Scorer: Felipe Baloy, one
Top Scorer in Single Tournament: Felipe Baloy (2018), One
Oldest Scorer: Felipe Baloy, 37 years, 120 days (2018 vs. England)
Youngest Scorer: Felipe Baloy, 37 years, 120 days (2018 vs. England)
Fact: At 37 years, 120 days, Felipe Baloy is the second oldest CONCACAF men's World Cup scorer behind Mexico's Cuauhtemoc Blanco (2010 vs. France at 37 years, 151 days).
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