England open their World Cup 2026 on Wednesday, June 17 against Croatia at AT&T Stadium — with a German coach, Thomas Tuchel, hired for exactly one job: ending a title drought that hits 60 years this summer. Here is the complete Group L guide: fixtures in ET, the squad, and how to watch in the US.
Group L: the lay of the land
Group L hands England the hardest opener of any top seed: Croatia, World Cup finalists in 2018 and semifinalists in 2022, with their golden generation taking one final swing. Ghana bring physicality and tournament pedigree; Panama complete the group.
England’s route runs Arlington, Foxborough, then East Rutherford — two of those three stadiums also host knockout rounds, so the squad will bank useful familiarity with the surfaces and sightlines.
England fixtures: Group L schedule (ET)
Every England group-stage match, with venues and Eastern Time kickoffs from the official tournament schedule.
| Date (2026) | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, June 17 | Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 4:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
| Tue, June 23 | Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA | 4:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
| Sat, June 27 | Panama | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ | 5:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
The Panama closer is at MetLife Stadium — the building that hosts the final on July 19, profiled in our MetLife deep dive.
The squad: Tuchel’s 26
Thomas Tuchel named a ruthless 26 on May 22, leaving established names at home and handing the keys to captain Harry Kane — who arrives off a monstrous 36-goal Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich. Declan Rice is the structural heart of the midfield, and Jude Bellingham made the squad despite an uneven, injury-flecked club season.
Tuchel’s bench calls tell the story: strikers Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins both made the cut, and Marcus Rashford was handed a key shirt number — three different profiles for the final third, depending on the game state.
World Cup pedigree
One title — Wembley, 1966 — and a long catalogue of near-misses since: semifinals in 1990 and 2018, plus back-to-back European Championship finals lost in 2021 and 2024. By June 2026 the drought is exactly 60 years, the most famous round number in the sport. The full title lineage is in our winners retrospective.
Tactical profile
Tuchel has rebuilt England around control: a 4-2-3-1 with Rice and a partner forming a double pivot, full-backs tucking inside, and a heavy emphasis on set-piece routines — the most undervalued source of tournament goals, as the data consistently shows.
The selection bet is up front: Kane drops deep to link play, which demands runners beyond him. Whether that runner is Bellingham arriving late, Rashford from the left or a second striker is the tactical question Tuchel kept deliberately open through camp.
How to watch in the USA
Every England match airs in English on FOX or FS1 with streaming on the FOX Sports app; Spanish-language coverage runs on Telemundo or Universo, with all matches streaming on Peacock.
Our US broadcast guide covers every window; the official squad announcement is on FIFA’s tournament site.
FAQ
When does England play their first World Cup 2026 match?
England open against Croatia on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Who is England’s captain at World Cup 2026?
Harry Kane captains England. He arrives off a 36-goal Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich and leads the line in Thomas Tuchel’s 4-2-3-1.
Who is in England’s World Cup 2026 group?
Group L contains England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. England play Croatia June 17 in Arlington, Ghana June 23 in Foxborough, and Panama June 27 at MetLife Stadium.
What channel are England matches on in the USA?
In English on FOX or FS1 (FOX Sports app for streaming); in Spanish on Telemundo or Universo, with every match streaming on Peacock.