Qualification scenariosGroup page

Group L qualification scenarios

Group L qualification scenarios tracks the current World Cup 2026 scenario, live qualification context, and related knockout paths.

Latest scenario update

2026-06-26

Generated from the current scenario dataset on 2026-06-27T06:19:40.366Z.

Group L snapshot

Current table: England 4 pts (+2 GD, final match left); Ghana 4 pts (+1 GD, final match left); Croatia 3 pts (-1 GD, final match left); Panama 0 pts (-2 GD, eliminated).

England hold first place, Ghana are in the second automatic slot, and Croatia are the main third-place reference point right now.

Relevant fixtures: Croatia vs Ghana (2026-06-27, 22:00 BST / 17:00 ET, Philadelphia); Panama vs England (2026-06-27, 22:00 BST / 17:00 ET, New York/New Jersey).
England W; Croatia W: England 1st; Croatia 2nd; Ghana 3rd. Ghana 4 pts; live third-place candidate.
England W; Croatia-Ghana draw: England 1st; Ghana 2nd; Croatia 3rd. Croatia 4 pts; live third-place candidate.
England W; Ghana W: England 1st/2nd; Ghana 1st/2nd; Croatia 3rd. Croatia 3 pts, needs help.

Current standings

Pos	Team	Pts	GD	Status
1	England	4	2	FINAL MATCH LEFT
2	Ghana	4	1	FINAL MATCH LEFT
3	Croatia	3	-1	FINAL MATCH LEFT
4	Panama	0	-2	ELIMINATED

Remaining fixtures

Croatia vs Ghana

Group L

2026-06-27 | 22:00 BST / 17:00 ET

Philadelphia

Croatia need result to avoid depending on third-place table; Ghana can qualify directly with draw/win.

Panama vs England

Group L

2026-06-27 | 22:00 BST / 17:00 ET

New York/New Jersey

England control top-two position; Panama need win and help.

Result path matrix

England W; Croatia W

Deterministic on points

Direct effect: England 1st; Croatia 2nd; Ghana 3rd

Third-place effect: Ghana 4 pts; live third-place candidate

England 7, Croatia 6, Ghana 4

England W; Croatia-Ghana draw

Deterministic on points

Direct effect: England 1st; Ghana 2nd; Croatia 3rd

Third-place effect: Croatia 4 pts; live third-place candidate

England 7, Ghana 5, Croatia 4

England W; Ghana W

Score-dependent for 1st/2nd between England and Ghana

Direct effect: England 1st/2nd; Ghana 1st/2nd; Croatia 3rd

Third-place effect: Croatia 3 pts, needs help

England 7, Ghana 7, Croatia 3

England-Panama draw; Croatia W

Deterministic on points; GD may affect first/second if edge cases

Direct effect: Croatia 1st; England 2nd; Ghana 3rd

Third-place effect: Ghana 4 pts; live third-place candidate

Croatia 6, England 5, Ghana 4

England-Panama draw; Croatia-Ghana draw

Score-dependent for 1st/2nd between England and Ghana

Direct effect: England/Ghana top two; Croatia 3rd

Third-place effect: Croatia 4 pts; live third-place candidate

England 5, Ghana 5, Croatia 4

England-Panama draw; Ghana W

Deterministic on points

Direct effect: Ghana 1st; England 2nd; Croatia 3rd

Third-place effect: Croatia 3 pts, needs help

Ghana 7, England 5, Croatia 3

Panama W; Croatia W

Score-dependent

Direct effect: Croatia 1st; England/Ghana/Panama sort 2nd-4th

Third-place effect: England or Ghana likely 3rd on 4 pts

Croatia 6, England 4, Ghana 4, Panama 3

Panama W; Croatia-Ghana draw

Deterministic on points

Direct effect: Ghana 1st; England 2nd; Croatia 3rd

Third-place effect: Croatia 4 pts; live third-place candidate

Ghana 5, England 4, Croatia 4, Panama 3

Panama W; Ghana W

Score-dependent

Direct effect: Ghana 1st; England/Croatia/Panama sort 2nd-4th

Third-place effect: England or Croatia likely 3rd

Ghana 7; England, Croatia, Panama can bunch

Third-place context

Group	Team	Pts	GD	Status	Notes
A	South Korea	3	-1	Can still advance	Known 3rd; not confirmed advanced
B	Bosnia and Herzegovina	4	-1	Advanced	Confirmed 3rd-place qualifier; critical Annex C constraint
C	Scotland	3	-3	Can still advance	Known 3rd; not confirmed advanced
D	Paraguay	4	-2	Can still advance	Known 3rd; 4 pts but source does not mark confirmed
E	Ecuador	4	0	Advanced	Confirmed 3rd-place qualifier
F	Sweden	4	0	Advanced	Confirmed 3rd-place qualifier
G	Belgium	2	0	Current 3rd before final match	Group G still open; third team can change
H	Cape Verde	2	0	Current 3rd before final match	Group H still open; third team can change
I	Senegal	0	-3	Current 3rd before final match	Third team depends on Senegal vs Iraq
J	Algeria	3	-2	Current 3rd before final match	Third team depends on Algeria vs Austria and Jordan vs Argentina
K	DR Congo	1	-1	Current 3rd before final match	Third team depends on Colombia vs Portugal and DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
L	Croatia	3	-1	Current 3rd before final match	Third team depends on Croatia vs Ghana and Panama vs England

Related scenario pages

Use these links to move between group stakes, third-place logic, and the live Round of 32 map.

World Cup 2026 scenarios

Start at the main qualification and bracket hub

Round of 32 scenarios

Stay anchored to the main bracket hub

Group L guide

See the full group page and live table context

World Cup 2026 third-place table

Compare this group with the wider third-place race

Annex C explained

Understand how third-place routing changes opponents

England

Open the team card for group context

Croatia

Open the team card for group context

Ghana

Open the team card for group context

Panama

Open the team card for group context

Round of 32 hub Third-place table