The final day of group stage games at the 2026 World Cup has finally arrived, and by the end of the day, we’ll know who’s going through and who’s going home. To start the day off we have the final group stage action from Group L where England were against Panama and Croatia played Ghana.
General view of the pre-match display inside the stadium before the match
Mike Segar
Thomas Tuchel made five changes to the lineup that drew 0-0 with Ghana in their last group game as Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Jarell Quansah, Nico O’Reilly, and Bukayo Saka came into the starting XI. Harry Kane captained and led the line as always, while the team's shape meant Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers played as a number 10 duo.
Thomas Christiansen made 3 changes to the team that started the 1-0 loss to Croatia last time out as they looked for their first-ever points at the World Cup. Tomas Rodriguez, Fidel Escobar, and Jorde Gutierrez all came into the starting lineup.
Panama tested the hands of Jordan Pickford in the English goal within the opening minute when Tomas Rodriguez had a half chance from just outside the box, but the forward fired his shot straight at the Everton shot stopper. Marcus Rashford went close for England a few minutes later when he cut inside after an impressive run down the left flank and released a shot towards the bottom corner, but Mosquera made a good stop down to his right side.
Rodriquez was once again causing issues for England as he was the next player to go close in the game when he had a shot saved well by Pickford at his near post. England were struggling to break Panama down, like they had trouble doing to Ghana, and Elliot Anderson had a shot from outside the box, but it was a comfortable save for Mosquera.
England's Harry Kane scores their second goal
Dylan Martinez
The final opportunity for the first half fell to England in stoppage time when they got a free kick just short of 30 yards out. Marcus Rashford stepped up and hit it well, but it was just too far outside of the post and went wide, leaving the teams tied at 0-0 going into the 2nd half.
England came out of the blocks well in the 2nd half and seemed to have their opening goal of the game when the ball bounced between Harry Kane and two Panama defenders, but somehow, just before the goal line, a Panama defender managed to hook the ball over the bar.
Panama had a half-chance from distance a few minutes later, but the shot from Jose Luis Rodriguez just went too wide of the far top corner. Harry Kane had a huge chance just two minutes later when he was played through on goal, but his shot was too close to Mosquera, and the Panama keeper kept his shot out.
A few minutes later, though, and England had their breakthrough from a Bukayo Saka corner. The ball was played in, and Jude Bellingham hooked his foot around his marker and stuck the ball in the bottom corner for his 2nd goal of the tournament and the first for England in this game.
England's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their second goal
Dylan Martinez
65 minutes into the game, and England managed to double their lead through Harry Kane. After some brilliant buildup work down the right-hand side, Jude Bellingham had the ball and played a delightful little chipped cross into Harry Kane, who nodded home for England’s 2nd goal of the game.
Panama had their chances in the final 15 minutes or so, first from a header that was close to going in, and then a blocked shot that went just over the bar. Panama thought they had their first goal of the tournament when they scored from a brilliant through ball and finish, but VAR intervened, and it showed the Panama striker was just offside by around half his body.
The game ended in a 2-0 win for England, as Panama bowed out of the World Cup with 0 points and 0 goals scored, but they were extremely unlucky not to get any points or score a single goal. England top the group and head into a knockout-round game against a 3rd-place team.
Zlatko Dalic made 4 changes from the side that started in the 1-0 win against Panama last time out, with Josip Stanisic, Nikola Vlasic, Petar Sucic, and Ante Budimir coming into the side, knowing that a win would send them through to the knockout stages and possibly to the top of the group.
General view of large Croatia and Ghana flags on the pitch before the match
Pilar Olivares
Carlos Queiroz opted to make a tactical change to their shape from their 0-0 draw with England last time out, moving from a 5-4-1 to a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Kamaldeen Sulemana coming in for Marvin Senaya.
The opening 15 minutes or so were very tense for both teams, with Croatia knowing a loss would eliminate them from the tournament. Nikola Vlasic went extremely close to opening the scoring when his shot from distance crashed off the left post.
Croatia went close again on the stroke of the half-hour mark when Ivan Perisic’s header from the middle of the box was well saved by Benjamin Asare. Croatia recycled the ball from that save, and Petar Sucic picked the ball up close to 30 yards out and smashed a shot beautifully into the bottom left corner to fire Croatia into the lead with a goal of the tournament contender.
Croatia's Nikola Vlasic celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates
Peter Cziborra
Antoine Semenyo had the first big chance for Ghana just before halftime, but his shot from inside the box, just out on the right side, went just wide of the post. The first half ended with Croatia leading 1-0.
It wasn’t until the 70th minute that we had any real action in the game as both teams struggled to produce anything in the earlier portions of the 2nd half, but Ghana equalized when an Ernest Nuamah delivery from a free kick found Derrick Luckassen at the back post, and the Ghanaian finished brilliantly to put Ghana level.
Mario Pasalic went close with less than 10 minutes to go, but his shot from outside the box was well saved by Asare, and unfortunately for Ghana, from the resulting corner, Luka Modric put a beautiful ball into the box, and Nikola Vlasic rose to head the ball brilliantly to put Croatia back in the lead at 2-1.
Ghana's Antoine Semenyo celebrates with teammates after a VAR review confirmed that Derrick Luckassen scored their first goal
Peter Cziborra
Abdul Fatawu had a late half-chance to get Ghana level again, but his shot from inside the box went high and wide, so Croatia won the game 2-1 and finished 2nd in the group. Ghana still advanced, just in 3rd place.
That is all she wrote for Group L at the 2026 World Cup, and what a brilliant group it was in the end. England finish top of the group on 7 points; Croatia finish 2nd on 6 points; Ghana finish 3rd on 4 points and qualify for the knockouts; and Panama finish 4th with 0 points, but they can be seriously proud of their performances in this tournament.
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Group L |
England |
Croatia |
Ghana |
Panama |
Tomorrow, the exciting knockout rounds begin as the round of 32 gets underway, with Canada taking on South Africa in Los Angeles, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm ET.
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South Africa |
Sunday, |
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
Fox, Fox One, Telemundo, Peacock |
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