England World Cup 2026 Fixtures: Full Schedule, Dates and UK Kick-Off Times

When does England play at the 2026 World Cup? The Three Lions face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L. This page has England’s full 2026 World Cup fixtures, with dates, UK kick-off times, venues and a preview of each match — plus knockout stage projections based on Mysports AI data.

📋 England in Group L of the 2026 World Cup

The draw held in Miami on 5 December 2025 placed England in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. England’s group-stage matches will be played across venues in the United States.

🗓️ England’s Group Stage Fixtures

Matchday 1 — England vs Croatia
📅 17 June 2026 | 20:00 BST
🏟️ AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas
A rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final that England lost 1-2 to Croatia. Tuchel’s side will be desperate to avenge that defeat. Croatia, without the retired Luka Modric in midfield, will be a different proposition — but still dangerous through Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić.

Matchday 2 — England vs Ghana
📅 21 June 2026 | 23:00 BST
🏟️ Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco, California
Ghana, returning to the World Cup after missing Qatar 2022, will be motivated — especially given the emotional significance the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier carries. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham) is their main threat. England should win comfortably but must not underestimate Black Stars.

Matchday 3 — Panama vs England
📅 25 June 2026 | 20:00 BST
🏟️ Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Panama qualified for their second-ever World Cup and will set up deep and compact. England thrashed Panama 6-1 at Russia 2018. A similar result here would top the group and set up a more favourable knockout bracket.

🏆 Potential Knockout Stage Opponents

If England finish first in Group L — the most likely outcome — they would face the best third-placed team from a set of groups in the Round of 32, then a second-placed team in the Round of 16. The knockout bracket could put England against teams from South America or African qualifiers in the quarter-finals. Mysports AI projects a 74% probability of England advancing from the group stage and 52% of reaching the semi-finals.

📺 Where to Watch England at the 2026 World Cup

All England matches at the 2026 World Cup will be broadcast free-to-air in the United Kingdom. The rights are shared between BBC and ITV. Streaming is available via BBC iPlayer and ITVX at no cost. Sky Sports and TNT Sports will provide comprehensive studio coverage. Note that UK kick-off times are in BST (British Summer Time, UTC+1) — all World Cup matches run from mid-June to mid-July 2026.

🔮 England World Cup 2026 Prediction

With Harry Kane leading the line, Jude Bellingham creating from deep and Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden providing width, England have the firepower to hurt any opponent. Tuchel’s high-press, possession-based 4-3-3 has averaged 2.3 goals per game in qualifying. The penalty record has to improve — but with mental conditioning a key part of Tuchel’s preparation, England fans dare to dream.

👉 Read also: England Tactics World Cup 2026: Tuchel’s system explained

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are England’s odds to win the 2026 World Cup?

England are third favourites with odds around 6.0 to 7.5, behind France (4.5) and Spain (5.0). Their best-ever finish was finishing third in 1966 as hosts — a win in 2026 would end 60 years of hurt.

Has England ever won the World Cup?

England won the World Cup in 1966 on home soil, beating West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley. That remains their only major international trophy. A win in 2026 would be their first in 60 years.

What is England’s World Cup record in recent tournaments?

England reached the semi-finals in 2018 (lost to Croatia 2-1), the final of Euro 2020 (lost on penalties to Italy), the semi-finals of Euro 2021, and the quarter-finals in 2022. Consistent near-misses fuel belief for 2026.

Why is 2026 England’s best chance to win the World Cup?

England have their most talented generation in decades: Bellingham, Kane, Saka, Foden and Palmer together. Playing in the USA — a country England fans travel to in massive numbers — adds psychological support.