All eyes will be on England, both group favourites and aiming to win the 2026 World Cup itself, but here in the opening rounds, competition from Croatia and plucky performances for Ghana and Panama are not to be scoffed at.
England
England arrive in North America after a straightforward qualification campaign where they won all eight matches and conceded no goals. But the second-strongest side in their group was also only Serbia, whom they beat 5-0 in the first leg.
They are favourites to win Group L. The real challenge is how England play against the best sides in the world, given that their World Cup campaigns have often been full of heartbreak. Their only title came in 1966 and a nation has since then poured its soul into the desire for another, for decades now still elusive, victory.
Progress was made recently under manager Gareth Southgate, whose teams reached the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in 2022. But after heartbreak in Euro 2024, Southgate stepped down and England decided to place their hopes in a proven winner from abroad. Thomas Tuchel has inherited a squad with great attacking depth. He has also based much of the team’s playing style on the general kind of play in the Premier League, quick transitions, running, and set-pieces.
Harry Kane, who has been in incredible form in Europe over the past two years, will lead the line for England. Attacking creators such as Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are absent but a nevertheless strong midfield including Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo and Jude Bellingham will bring control and attacking thrust, although the wings may prove to be one of the weaker points when the Three Lions face the biggest teams in the knockout stages.
Croatia
No country of Croatia’s size has consistently achieved so much on the World Cup stage. Since becoming an independent football nation, they have reached one final and two semi-finals while establishing themselves as one of international football’s most reliable tournament teams.
Their latest qualification campaign was among their strongest in years. Croatia finished unbeaten, scoring freely and conceding only four goals, although the level of opposition was, similar to England, relatively modest.
The squad travelling to the Americas is largely a highly experienced squad. Zlatko Dalic, who took the team to the final in 2018 and a semi-final in 2022, continues in charge despite a performance at Euro 2024. Many of the players who formed the backbone of Croatia’s recent successes are still in the side, including Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and Mateo Kovacic.
The team still revolves around Modric, who at 40 is no longer the best midfield player in the world that he was in his prime, but who can still provide control and attacking impetus. Croatia are famous for being a highly solid and disciplined side and another deep run in the knockout stages is a strong possibility.
Ghana
Ghana have had a topsy-turvy decade and a half since the heights of their quarter-final showing in 2010, where only a deliberate Luis Suarez handball and subsequently a poor penalty from Asamoah Gyan prevented them from reaching the semi-finals. They failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but were able to qualify for this 2026 World Cup relatively comfortably, topping their group with eight wins from 10 matches.
Coach Otto Addo, who guided Ghana through qualification was dismissed, due to general poor performance and Carlos Queiroz was hired. Queiroz has a wealth of experience having coached nations such as Portugal, South Africa, Egypt and Qatar. Mohammed Kudus is arguably the country’s best player but the Tottenham player will miss the tournament through injury.
Jordan Ayew, standout performer with seven goals and seven assists during qualification will lead the side, but there will also be much anticipation regarding Antoine Semenyo, who won two trophies with Manchester City this year after switching from Bournemouth.
Panama
This will be only Panama’s second World Cup appearance, having made their debut in 2018, although they ended that edition without a single point, their one goal against England in a 6-1 defeat celebrated like a trophy given its significance as their first goal on the big stage.
The team lack established players and manager Thomas Christiansen will be aware that they need to work as a collective and stay disciplined if they are to meet their World Cup target, which is the modest aim of securing their first ever win in the competition. Panama have previously reached the finals of the Gold Cup and Concacaf Nations League finals under Christiansen, but Group L will more than provide a test for them.
