The die is cast. The stage is now set for the 2026 World Cup football showpiece, following an intriguing draw where the Black Stars of Ghana has been drawn alongside England, Croatia and Panama.
Group L has been labelled as one of the Groups of Death by many pundits and football fans, considering the pedigree of the countries drawn and their level of experience both on the continental and world stages.
The Black Stars would open their campaign against Panama before facing England in their second match and close out against Croatia in Group L.
With the World Cup expanded to 48 teams, the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams from the groups would progress to the Round of 32.
This gives the Black Stars a strong chance for finishing as one of the eight best third-place teams or possibly securing two of the automatic qualification spots.
It is worth noting that any time the Black Stars have qualified for the next round of the World Cup (2006, 2010), they have been considered underdogs, so this stern Group L presents another good opportunity to replicate another memorable underdog story.
Profiling teams
England is one of the most experienced nations at the FIFA World Cup, having appeared in 16 tournaments. Their crowning moment came in 1966, when they won their only title.
The Three Lions’ progress in recent tournaments has been impressive, having been semifinalists in 2018 and quarterfinalists in 2022.
Ranked among the top teams globally, they enter 2026 World Cup aiming to convert their strong pedigree and player quality into a second championship which has been elusive for many years.
On the other hand, Croatia have had an impressive World Cup story; since debuting in 1998. They have reached six tournaments, with two podium finishes in the last two editions.
They were runners-up in 2018 and third place in 2022. Despite never winning the trophy, Croatia has earned a reputation for resilience and tactical brilliance, often outperforming expectations.
The Black Stars of Ghana have featured in four World Cups since their debut in 2006, quickly establishing themselves as one of Africa’s most competitive sides.
The four-time African Champions had their best outing at the World Cup in 2010, when they reached the quarterfinals and narrowly missed a historic semifinal spot after a dramatic penalty shootout loss to Uruguay.
Although recent campaigns ended in group-stage exits, Ghana’s experience and youthful talent make them a dangerous opponent in the upcoming tournament.
Panama is still a newcomer to the World Cup. Their debut came in 2018, where they finished bottom of the group and overall standings.
The 2026 tournament marks only their second appearance, a significant milestone for the nation.
While they lack historical success, Panama’s qualification reflects steady growth in CONCACAF football, and they will aim to improve on their previous showing.
Coaches’ Pedigree
England coach Thomas Tuchel brings an impressive resume compared to the other coaches in the group, having won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea.
However, Croatia’s coach, Zlatko Dalić, is perhaps the most experienced coach at the World Cup, having taken his side to the finals of the 2018 World Cup.
For Ghana coach Otto Addo, he featured for Ghana at the 2006 World Cup and coached the team at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where the stars exited at the group stage.
Panama’s Christiansen’s managerial pedigree has been impressive, especially in Cyprus, winning domestic titles with AEK Larnaca and APOEL.
He has also guided the Panama national team to 2023, as well as qualifying the team for their second-ever World Cup in 2026.
It is clear from this brief profile that Tuchel and Dalić emerge as the heavyweights. Tuchel for his elite club success and tactical sophistication, and Dalić for his proven World Cup track record.
Christiansen and Addo, while less decorated, bring unique strengths: Christiansen’s European tactical schooling and Panama’s recent rise, and Otto Addo’s experience playing and coaching at the World Cup.
Player Quality
What makes Group L one of the groups of death is the rich player quality among the four countries.
Certainly, the three Lions come first with the depth of the squad, and Thomas Tuchel would have a headache selecting the squad for his side.
From goalkeeping to the forward position, the likes of Jordan Pickford, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Jarrod Bowen, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane could start in any national team considering the quality they possess.
Croatia has an ageing squad, with their talisman Luka Modrić (40 years) perhaps making his last appearance on the world stage.
Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić and Bruno Petković are 30 years and above, but the quality they possess is top-notch.
Despite the ageing squad, Croatia’s consistency and performance at the World Cup would also make them the dark horses of the tournament.
The Black Stars of Ghana squad is a blend of young and old players who are talented in their respective positions.
The likes of Kudus Mohammed, Antoine Semenyo, Thomas Partey and Fatawu Issahaku have made their mark on the state of competitive club football and would seek to establish themselves as big names at the Mundial.
