Panama face England on Saturday, June 27 at 5:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM PT at MetLife Stadium, with England needing only to avoid defeat to seal their place in the round of 32 from Group L.
Our Panama vs England prediction starts with the gap the markets see between these two sides. England sit top of World Cup 2026 Group L on four points after a 4-2 win over Croatia, a Harry Kane brace plus goals from Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham, followed by a 0-0 draw with Ghana. Panama, by contrast, have lost both matches 1-0 and arrive without a point or a goal to their name.
The maths is simple for Thomas Tuchel’s side: any result other than a loss guarantees progress, while a win would leave England well placed to top the group, depending on Ghana’s result and margin against Croatia. Panama cannot finish in the top two, so their final group game is about pride, resistance and trying to disrupt England’s path. bet365 prices England at -600 to win, with the draw at +700 and Panama a +1200 outsider.
Panama vs England: Best Bets & Predictions
Five picks to consider across the headline markets, weighted by where the data and the bet365 lines line up most cleanly.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Sportsbook | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| England to Win | -600 @ bet365 (85.7%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | England have scored four times and generated 6.72 xG across two games; Panama have lost both matches 1-0 and are still searching for their first goal. The -600 line reflects a gulf that shows up in every underlying number. |
| Over 2.5 Goals | -225 @ bet365 (69.2%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | England average 3.36 xG a game and have had 41 shots, 14 on target, in two matches. Against a Panama side already eliminated and still without a goal, that volume points to a comfortable winning margin. |
| Both Teams to Score: No | -150 @ bet365 (60.0%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Panama have managed just 1.86 xG across two games and have yet to score in the tournament. They now run into an England backline that shut out Ghana, so the clean sheet is the likeliest route. |
| Harry Kane (Anytime Goalscorer) | -175 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐ | Kane is England’s primary finisher and has been at the centre of their 6.72 xG and four-goal haul over two group games. At -175, the price reflects a strong favourite tag without drifting to unbackable territory against a Panama side yet to keep England quiet. |
| England 3-0 (Correct Score) | +600 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐ | The 3-0 scoreline ties the card together: it satisfies Over 2.5 Goals, keeps Both Teams to Score: No intact, and reflects England’s average of just over three goals per expected goals output per game in this tournament. At +600, the score specificity is priced as a bonus rather than a stretch. |
Our approach: anchor with England to Win at the headline price, then lean on the underlying numbers, England’s chance creation and Panama’s goalless return, to layer Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams to Score: No around an expected one-sided scoreline.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
Deposit required. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&Cs, time limits, and exclusions apply.
World Cup Form & Standings
England go into the final round on top of Group L by virtue of goal difference, level on four points with Ghana, and know a draw is enough to advance. England have the cushion; Panama sit bottom without a point and play only for pride, with Croatia and Ghana meeting simultaneously in the group’s other fixture.
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 |
| Ghana | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Croatia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| Panama | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
Potential Match-Winners
- Harry Kane (England): The England captain opened the tournament with a brace against Croatia and is the obvious attacking reference point against a defense that has conceded in both games. Kane leads the line for a side averaging 3.36 xG a match.
- Jude Bellingham (England): Bellingham was among the scorers in the Croatia win and remains the engine of this midfield. Against a Panama side likely to spend long spells defending deep, he should still find space to drive into the box.
- Marcus Rashford (England): Rashford also scored against Croatia and gives England a direct threat in behind. With 70 opposition-box touches and 17 corners across two games, the supply line into the area is steady.
- Panama’s attack: The contrast is stark. Panama have generated just 1.86 xG in total and failed to score in either match, taking 19 shots with only five on target. Without a goal threat to point to, they are reliant on a defensive performance and a set piece.
Recent Form
England: W, D
- Jun 17, 2026: England 4-2 Croatia (W), World Cup 2026 group stage
- Jun 23, 2026: England 0-0 Ghana (D), World Cup 2026 group stage
England’s only blemish is a goalless draw with Ghana in which they dominated the ball, with 78.9% possession, 19 shots and 2.09 xG, but found just three shots on target. That was a finishing afternoon, not a chance-creation problem: across both games England have racked up 41 shots, 14 on target, and 6.72 xG. The volume is there; a more clinical evening is overdue.
Panama: L, L
- Jun 18, 2026: Ghana 1-0 Panama (L), World Cup 2026 group stage
- Jun 24, 2026: Panama 0-1 Croatia (L), World Cup 2026 group stage
Panama have been competitive enough to keep both games to a single goal, but the tournament problem is plain: no goals from 19 shots and 1.86 xG. They had 62% of the ball against Ghana and still could not score, and a 54th-minute Ante Budimir strike settled the Croatia game. They face their toughest test yet with nothing in the tank up front.
Panama vs England Prediction
England have more quality, more depth and only a draw to find to go through, and Tuchel has the option to manage minutes with the knockout rounds in mind. Panama will sit deep and try to keep the score down, but the talent gap and their goalless return make an upset hard to picture. We expect England to break through before half-time and add to it after the interval. Back England to Win at -600 with bet365 as the anchor, with Over 2.5 Goals the supporting play. England remain among the World Cup 2026 outright favorites, and you can find more of our calls on the soccer predictions page.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER