The final round of games of the 2026 World Cup group stage take place between Wednesday and Sunday. We’ve taken a look at the Group L permutations.
We’ve broken down each group, with this article focusing on Group L. England and Ghana have four points, with Croatia just behind on three. Panama will think themselves unlucky to be bottom of the group without a single point.
Below are all the permutations for those groups as well as who each team could face in the next round. It’s a little complicated but we’ve tried to make it as easy we can!
How could Group L finish?
| Result A | Result B | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| England win | Croatia win | 1. England (7 points) 2. Croatia (6 points) 3. Ghana (4 points) 4. Panama (0 points) |
| England win | Croatia/Ghana draw | 1. England (7 points) 2. Ghana (5 points) 3. Croatia (4 points) 4. Panama (0 points) |
| England win | Ghana win | 1. England (7 points) 2. Ghana (7 points) 3. Croatia (3 points) 4. Panama (0 points) |
| England/Panama draw | Croatia win | 1. Croatia (6 points) 2. England (5 points) 3. Ghana (4 points) 4. Panama (1 point) |
| England/Panama draw | Croatia/Ghana draw | 1. England (5 points) 2. Ghana (5 points) 3. Croatia (4 points) 4. Panama (1 point) |
| England/Panama draw | Ghana win | 1. Ghana (7 points) 2. England (5 points) 3. Croatia (3 points) 4. Panama (1 point) |
| Panama win | Croatia win | 1. Croatia (6 points) 2. England (4 points) 3. Ghana (4 points) 4. Panama (3 points) |
| Panama win | Croatia/Ghana draw | 1. Ghana (5 points) 2. England (4 points) 3. Croatia (4 points) 4. Panama (3 points) |
| Panama win | Ghana win | 1. Ghana (7 points) 2. England (4 points) 3. Croatia (3 points) 4. Panama (3 points) |
England know that a victory over Panama will seal top spot in Group L, unless Ghana beat Croatia by three more goals than England win by. A draw only gives England the group win if Croatia and Ghana also draw, while a defeat to Panama would see England finish second. That is unless England lose by three, or more, goals to Panama and Croatia beat Ghana by a single goal.
Ghana are in a strong position, too. They know they will qualify for the knockout stages unless they lose to Croatia. They can still win the group too. To do that they need to win and hope that England drop points against Panama.
Croatia have to win. Anything less will see them finish third and they would be relying on other nations faring worse than them to enter the Round of 32.
Panama will finish bottom of the group regardless of their result against England.
Who could the teams from Group L face in the next round?
The Group L will face off against a nation that finishes third in Group E, H, I, J or K. That is currently scheduled to be Cape Verde but, of course, that could all change.
Whoever finishes second will face the runner-up in Group K. That’s currently lining up to be Portugal.
The current projections show that the side that finishes third in Group L will have done enough to make the Round of 32. They will take on the winners of Group K. Current projections mean that should be Colombia.
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