World Cup 2026: Group L Preview

The Metro Philadelphia and Philly Sports Network World Cup content machine rolls on with our final group preview. This time, taking a look at Group L, which features two European sides, one of which is a previous winner of the tournament, and the other, which will be hunting their third World Cup medal in as many tournaments. The group also features an African side looking to steady the ship after a shaky time and a Central American nation returning to the tournament after an 8-year absence.

The FIFA World Cup is displayed during the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at Nathan Phillips Square.

Kevin Sousa

North America 2026: Group L Preview 

Croatia

Croatia has been one of the most consistent nations at major tournaments over the past decade, with multiple World Cup medals to its name, including a third-place finish in 2022. They've hit the point where their golden generation is now on the way out due to age, and that showed at the 2024 European Championships when they were knocked out in the group stages. 

This World Cup will be the last for the mainstay stars like Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, and, of course, Real Madrid legend and current AC Milan midfielder, 40-year-old Luka Modric. All these legends of Croatian football will be looking to go out on a high for their country, but it might just be a matter of time, and they simply can't perform at the levels they could in previous tournaments. 

For that reason, the players I have noted as ones to watch for Croatia at the tournament are the younger stars coming through right now, who will likely play a big part off the bench, replacing the aging stars during the second half of most games. Petar Musa and Marco Pasalic have been fantastic in the MLS for FC Dallas and Orlando City, while Marin Baturina has taken Italian football by storm for Como. Toni Fruk was the Croatian League's Player of the Season and could use this platform to really showcase his talents for his country. 

Croatia's Luka Modric celebrates scoring their first goal

Antonio Bronic

England

The creators of the sport, the winners of this very tournament in their home ground back in 1966, and my country of birth, England, have been looking to bring football back home since that iconic win back in 1966, and the past few major tournaments have been the closest they've come since then. 

Now, with Thomas Tuchel in charge and a very new-look squad on paper, will the German be able to replicate the consistency Gareth Southgate showed across multiple World Cups and European Championships? Harry Kane, arguably the greatest striker in the world right now, will be leading the line, and usual names like Jordan Pickford and Declan Rice will be mainstays in the team, but newcomers like Elliot Anderson, Morgan Rogers, and Nico O'Reilly will be huge factors in how successful England is. 

Elliot Anderson has been fantastic for Nottingham Forest this season and played just as well in an England shirt over his 7 caps so far, and will be key in midfield next to Declan Rice. Nico O'Reilly has been a sensation for Manchester City since coming through the youth ranks and has fit a major need in Tuchel's squad at left-back, but this will be his first major tournament at just 21 years old.  

Two major questions heading into their opening game against Croatia will be the battles for the left-winger spot and who starts as the number 10 behind Harry Kane. Anthony Gordon, who recently earned a move to Barcelona, will be fighting Marcus Rashford, who's found his confidence and form back playing for Barcelona this past season, for the left-wing role. While Morgan Rogers, who's been simply brilliant for Aston Villa and England, and Jude Bellingham, a generational talent for Real Madrid, will be fighting to start as the number 10 behind Kane. 

If Tuchel gets those decisions right and the young players who will play major roles in his team's starting line-up play to their potential, surely, just surely, this will finally be the year that I and all Englishmen can say that football is coming home. 

England's Jude Bellingham in action with Serbia's Strahinja Pavlovic

Toby Melville

Ghana

Ghana has been through some disastrous times in the past couple of years, with a managerial change just two months before the tournament from Otto Addo to Carlos Queiroz, failing to qualify for AFCON this past year, and some of their biggest stars missing the tournament due to injury. 

Ghana head into the tournament with a bare-bones midfield and two massive stars out of the squad due to injury. Both Mohammed Kudus of Tottenham and Mohammed Salisu of Monaco will miss this year's World Cup due to injuries, with several other players also out. 

While Ghana will be missing those players, they do still have some good talent on their squad, with Manchester City standout Antoine Semenyo leading the way, with the likes of Inaki Williams and Jordan Ayew offering support. Caleb Yirenkyi is someone I'll be paying close attention to this tournament, as it could be a breakout summer for the young right-back-turned-midfielder. Derrick Kohn has also impressed at left-back since coming into the squad in recent friendlies, with a crossing ability that'll make most wingers jealous. 

Ghana's Alexander Djiku in action with Germany's Nick Woltemade

Kai Pfaffenbach

Panama

Panama heads to their 2nd-ever World Cup after their first came 8 years ago in 2018, a tournament they arrived at just happy to be there, but this one will be completely different after the nation has made themselves one of the best CONCACAF has to offer. 

After finishing 2nd at the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, getting out of the group stages in the 2024 Copa America, and then reaching the final of the 24/25 CONCACAF Nations League, Panama head into the 2026 World Cup with real belief that they can cause an upset and be this year’s surprise success story. 

Veterans like Eric Davis, Yoel Barcenas, and especially Anibal Godoy still make up the spine and soul of the team, with Godoy playing for San Diego FC in the MLS. Godoy is the heart and soul of the team, both on and off the pitch, running himself into the ground for his country even at the age of 36.

Adalberto Carrasquilla, his central midfield partner, will be a huge factor in Panama's success at the World Cup, as he's the more technically gifted of the midfield pair and the one responsible for linking defense and attack. Most fans will put Panama down as the team that will finish last in the group, but I think many may be surprised. 

Panama's Tomas Rodriguez celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates

Aris Martinez

Group K kicks off June 17th! 

On paper, this just looks like one of those groups you see at every major tournament that has two big European nations set to glide through 1st and 2nd but when you look deeper, I honestly think Panama, and slightly to a lesser extent, Ghana, have the ability and quality to upset one of the European nations and maybe even beat out Croatia to that 2nd spot. England should and likely will top the group, but I’m going on the record and saying Panama manages to beat out Croatia to 2nd place and cause a big upset. 

 Matchday 1: 

Matchday 2: 

Matchday 3: 

For more reading on the World Cup, check out our other previews:

Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D

Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H

Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L