England head to FIFA 2026 in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama — a genuinely tricky opener against Croatia headlines a group that demands respect. Under German manager Thomas Tuchel, England — winners only once, in 1966 — carry the weight of '60 years of hurt' (and counting) as one of the most talent-rich squads in the tournament, built around Jude Bellingham's emergence as a global superstar.
| Appearances | 16 |
| Best Finish | Champions (1966) |
| Last Appearance | 2022 (quarter-finals) |
| 2022 Result | Lost quarter-final to France |
Jude Bellingham has become one of the most complete midfielders in world football at Real Madrid, combining goal-scoring with all-action box-to-box energy. Harry Kane remains England's record goalscorer and a clinical finisher, while Bukayo Saka provides width and creativity.
Group L opens with a tough England vs Croatia clash — Croatia have been World Cup over-achievers for years (runners-up 2018, third place 2022) and always raise their game against bigger nations. Ghana and Panama bring tournament experience and could cause upsets. England cannot afford a slow start in this group.
England's opener against Croatia is one of the most anticipated group-stage matches of FIFA 2026 — Croatia have knocked England out of major tournaments before (2018 World Cup semi-final) and always seem to find an extra gear against the Three Lions. With Jude Bellingham now a genuine global superstar, England's '60 years of hurt' narrative (since their only title in 1966) adds dramatic weight to every match.
England matches will be shown on T Sports and Sony Sports in Bangladesh, with England vs Croatia as the standout fixture to prioritise. Given England's large following even outside the UK, expect significant discussion of these matches in Bangladeshi football circles.