Last reviewed: June 2026
England are in Group L at the 2026 World Cup alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. All three group stage matches kick off in the UK evening. This is the complete schedule with UK times, venues, broadcasters and what each result means for England's route through the tournament.
Key facts
- England are in Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
- England play Croatia on 17 June (9pm BST, AT&T Stadium Dallas, ITV1).
- England play Ghana on 23 June (9pm BST, Gillette Stadium Boston, BBC One).
- England play Panama on 27 June (10pm BST, MetLife Stadium New York/New Jersey, ITV1).
- All three England group matches are free on BBC or ITV - no subscription required.
- England need to finish top two of Group L to advance to the Round of 32.
England's Group L Fixtures: Complete Schedule
England manager Thomas Tuchel's side were drawn into Group L at the official 2026 World Cup draw held at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on 5 December 2025. The draw placed England alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama, giving them a group that contains a familiar European opponent in Croatia and two sides ranked outside the top 30 in FIFA's global rankings.
All three of England's group stage matches kick off in the UK evening, making them accessible for pub viewing and home audiences without the late-night scheduling that affects some other fixtures in the tournament.
| Date | Match | Venue | UK Time (BST) | UK Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 17 June 2026 | England vs Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas | 9pm BST | ITV1 / ITVX |
| Tuesday 23 June 2026 | England vs Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Boston | 9pm BST | BBC One / iPlayer |
| Saturday 27 June 2026 | Panama vs England | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ | 10pm BST | ITV1 / ITVX |
Match 1: England vs Croatia, 17 June 2026
England open their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia, a fixture that carries significant history. Croatia defeated England in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, winning 2-1 after extra time in Moscow. England subsequently beat Croatia in the opening match of UEFA Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium. The 2026 meeting in Dallas is the third competitive encounter between the two nations in eight years.
The match takes place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home ground of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. The stadium has a capacity of approximately 80,000 and is one of the largest venues in the tournament. Croatia, ranked 10th in the world by FIFA at the time of the draw, were themselves placed in Pot 2 ahead of the draw, reflecting their status as a consistently competitive European side despite an ageing core group of players.
The match kicks off at 4pm Eastern Time (US), 9pm British Summer Time. ITV1 holds the broadcast rights for this fixture in the United Kingdom, with free streaming available on ITVX.
Match 2: England vs Ghana, 23 June 2026
England face Ghana at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, six days after the Croatia opener. Ghana were ranked 72nd in the world by FIFA at the time of the draw, making them the lowest-ranked side in Group L. England and Ghana have not previously met in a competitive international fixture. Their only previous meeting was a 1-1 friendly draw in 2011.
Gillette Stadium is the home of the NFL's New England Patriots and sits approximately 25 miles south-west of Boston city centre. It has a capacity of around 65,878 for football events. The stadium also hosted England's match against Ghana in this fixture, scheduled for 4pm Eastern Time, 9pm BST.
BBC One holds the broadcast rights for this fixture in the United Kingdom, with free streaming on BBC iPlayer. Scotland fans also have an interest in this fixture: should Ghana score goals against England, it affects the goal difference calculations that could determine whether third-placed teams advance.
Match 3: Panama vs England, 27 June 2026
England conclude their group stage campaign against Panama at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This is the same stadium that will host the World Cup final on 19 July. England played Panama at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, winning 6-1 in the group stage in Nizhny Novgorod. Panama are ranked 30th in the world.
The match kicks off at 5pm Eastern Time, 10pm BST. ITV1 holds the broadcast rights. MetLife Stadium has a capacity of approximately 82,500 and is the largest venue in the 2026 tournament.
England's Route Through the Tournament
If England finish top of Group L, their Round of 32 match would take place on 1 July, likely in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, against a third-placed team from another group. If England finish second in the group, their Round of 32 match would be against a different configuration of opponents.
FIFA's tournament design for 2026 includes a seeded knockout bracket intended to keep the highest-ranked nations apart until the semi-finals. England, as one of the top-four seeded nations in the draw alongside Spain, Argentina and France, are placed in a bracket that means those four nations would only meet in a semi-final or final if they each win their respective groups and advance through the knockout rounds as expected.
The Round of 32 runs from 28 June to 3 July. The Round of 16 follows from 4 to 7 July. Quarter-finals take place on 9 to 11 July, semi-finals on 14 and 15 July, and the final on 19 July.
Watching England's Matches: UK Viewing Guide
All 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup are broadcast free-to-air in the United Kingdom. BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1 and ITV4 share the broadcast rights, with all matches also available for free streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. There is no requirement for a subscription to any pay television service to watch any World Cup match in the UK.
England's three group stage matches all kick off in the UK evening, between 9pm and 10pm BST. This is significantly more convenient than some other fixtures in the tournament, where matches in western North American time zones kick off at 1am, 3am or 5am BST. Pubs, bars and other licensed venues can apply for extended hours licences to show England's matches under the Licensing Act 2003, subject to obtaining a Temporary Event Notice from their local licensing authority where required.
UK Consumer Rights for Travelling England Fans
UK fans travelling to the USA to watch England's group stage matches should be aware of the following. A valid ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) is required for UK citizens travelling to the United States without a visa. Applications are made at esta.cbp.dhs.gov and cost 21 US dollars. An ESTA is valid for two years or until your passport expires. Processing typically takes 72 hours but applications should be made several weeks in advance during peak travel periods.
Flight rights under UK law apply to UK-departing flights on UK or EU-based carriers. Flights operated by US carriers departing from US airports are covered by US Department of Transportation rules rather than UK261 regulations. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 provides protection for credit card purchases over 100 pounds if a supplier fails to deliver, including flights, hotels and match tickets purchased on a UK credit card regardless of where the supplier is based.
Frequently Asked Questions
What group is England in at the 2026 World Cup?
Group L, alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. England were seeded in Pot 1 for the draw as one of the top 12 ranked nations including the three hosts. The draw took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on 5 December 2025.
What time do England's World Cup matches kick off in the UK?
England vs Croatia on 17 June kicks off at 9pm BST on ITV1. England vs Ghana on 23 June kicks off at 9pm BST on BBC One. Panama vs England on 27 June kicks off at 10pm BST on ITV1. All times are British Summer Time.
What channel are England's World Cup matches on?
All three group stage matches are free-to-air. England vs Croatia and Panama vs England are on ITV1 (streaming on ITVX). England vs Ghana is on BBC One (streaming on BBC iPlayer). No subscription is required for any England group stage match.
Where are England playing their group stage matches?
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (vs Croatia, 17 June), Gillette Stadium in Foxborough near Boston (vs Ghana, 23 June), and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (vs Panama, 27 June).
How does England qualify from Group L?
England need to finish in the top two of Group L to qualify automatically for the Round of 32. The top two teams from each group advance. Additionally, the eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also advance to the Round of 32, so a third-place finish is not necessarily elimination.
Do I need an ESTA to travel to the USA for England's matches?
Yes. UK citizens travelling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Programme must hold a valid ESTA. Applications are made at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, cost 21 US dollars, and should be submitted at least 72 hours before travel. For full information on ESTA requirements for World Cup travel, see our dedicated ESTA guide.
