England did well in the 2026 World Cup group stage: they finished top of Group L with 7 points from 3 matches and advanced to the knockout rounds. They beat Croatia 4-2, drew 0-0 with Ghana, and beat Panama 2-0.

What that means

  • England finished unbeaten in the group stage with two wins and one draw.
  • They won Group L ahead of Croatia, which gave them a more favorable knockout path.
  • Their next match was set against DR Congo in the round of 32.

Bigger picture

England were also being viewed as one of the stronger contenders before the knockout rounds, with preview coverage placing them among the top favorites to go deep in the tournament. Their overall tournament start was solid, even if some reports noted they were not always at their best.

Match results

OpponentResult
CroatiaWin 4-2
GhanaDraw 0-0
PanamaWin 2-0