2026 World Cup group of demise? England will get Croatia in nightmare draw

December 6, 2025 by ABHISHEK TIWARI

WASHINGTON — Critics of the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup will say the event has turn into watered down however a number of teams are loaded with heavy-hitters who could have a more durable time than anticipated to advance to the knockout stage.

Group L appears to be like just like the 2026 World Cup’s unofficial “Group of Dying” with England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama taking part in a round-robin for a spot within the Spherical of 32.

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Ranked fourth in FIFA world rankings, England noticed its worst-case situation unfold when Croatia – the top-ranked staff in Pot B – was drawn into the identical group.

Croatia, the World Cup runner-up in 2018, knocked England out within the semifinals of that event and completed third within the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The Croats entered the draw ranked No. 10 on the planet and would have been within the prime pot if it weren’t for the three co-hosts.

England heads into the 2026 World Cup as one of many favorites, seeking to elevate the trophy for the primary time since profitable it in 1966 on house soil. The Three Lions had been knocked out by France within the 2022 World Cup and have completed runner-up in back-to-back European championships.

Ghana is one in all Africa’s most completed groups, qualifying for the fifth time within the final six World Cups.

SPAIN: Lamine Yamal. Nonetheless simply a young person, few gamers are as thrilling with the ball at their ft because the 18-year-old Barcelona winger. He already has 23 caps for Spain, bursting onto the scene as 16-year-old sensation.

ARGENTINA: Lionel Messi. This definitely is the final journey for the one of many best gamers to ever do it. He led La Albiceleste to World Cup glory in 2022 and continues to be defying Father Time at 38 years previous (he’ll flip 39 throughout the event).

FRANCE: Want Doue. Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise are the celebrities of France’s assault, however remember the 20-year-old Doue, who’s a key piece in Paris Saint-Germain’s midfield. He is a difficult participant who is continually placing defenses underneath stress.

ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka. The 24-year-old Arsenal winger is already a widely known commodity. He is appeared greater than 200 instances for Arsenal and has 14 England objectives already. His left foot is a wand reducing in off the best and he constantly places defenders on their heels.

GERMANY: Jamal Musiala. The 22-year-old Bayern Munich attacker is coming off a severe ankle damage suffered at July’s FIFA Membership World Cup. He must be go good to go this summer season and his trickery and dribbling give the Germans an added dimension in midfield.

BELGIUM: Jeremy Doku. This 23-year-old Manchester Metropolis winger is electrical. He is among the many greatest dribblers within the Premier League and is a nightmare when he is working at defenders with the ball at his ft.

PORTUGAL: Cristiano Ronaldo. At 40 years previous, he is nonetheless not slowing down. Ronaldo has scored 109 objectives since transferring to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia 4 years in the past and has transferred that type to Portugal, with eight objectives in 9 video games for the nationwide staff in 2025.

JAPAN: Takefusa Kubo. The 24-year-old Actual Sociedad proper winger (ESP) will constantly run at defenders, placing opponents on their heels. He led Japan in objectives+assists in qualifying (11) and shall be key to Samurai Blue’s assault.

NORWAY: Erling Haaland. An unstoppable drive, the 25-year-old striker led Norway to its first World Cup since 1998. He is a scoring machine with 55 objectives in 48 video games for Norway and is quick approaching 150 profession objectives for Manchester Metropolis in simply over 160 video games performed.

MOROCCO: Abde Ezzalzouli. A 23-year-old left winger who performs for Actual Betis in Spain, will get objectives and assists and is not afraid to get caught in. He scored in Morocco’s 6-0 win over Egypt within the 2024 bronze medal recreation within the Paris Olympics.

USA: Christian Pulisic. Loads falls on the shoulders of Captain America, and the 27-year-old winger has been constructing to this second. He is performed for a few of Europe’s greatest golf equipment (Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and now AC Milan) and has 32 objectives in 82 caps for the US.

ENGLAND: Phil Foden. The 25-year-old midfielder was named 2024 English Premier League Participant of the 12 months, scoring 19 objectives in Manchester CIty’s title-winning season. He dropped off a bit final season, however continues to be probably the most artistic gamers within the EPL.

NETHERLANDS: Cody Gakpo. The 26-year-old Liverpool ahead has already scored 19 objectives for Holland in simply 46 caps.Memphis Depay continues to be the focus of the Dutch assault, however Gakpo gives loads of ability and pace to open up defenses.

ARGENTINA: Nico Paz. A part of La Albiceleste’s subsequent technology, the 21-year-old midfielder is off to a flier this season for Como in Italy’s Serie A. He’ll doubtless head again to Actual Madrid subsequent season and is the long run midfield maestro for Argentina.

SPAIN: Nico Williams. With Lamine Yamal on one aspect and Williams on the opposite, Spain’s wingers give defenses sleepless nights. The 23-year-old Athletic Bilbao winger has six objectives in 30 Spain caps and is electrical with the ball at his ft.

AUSTRALIA: Nestory Irankunda. Diminutive however dynamic, this 19-year-old ahead has blistering tempo, nice dribbling capacity and rocket for a shot. He had a quick spell with Bayern Munich’s reserves, however now performs for Watford in The EFL Championship (England’s second tier).

CANADA: Tajon Buchanan. The 26-year-old winger has featured 57 instances for Canada and is amongst its most harmful attacking choices. He is scored 4 instances this season for Villareal in Spain.

SWITZERLAND: Johan Manzambi. The 20-year-old midfielder who performs for Freiburg in Germany has eight caps for the Swiss staff (all this 12 months) and scored towards the U.S. in a 4-0 win final June.

SENEGAL: Ismaila Sarr. The 27-year-old winger has scored 4 objectives in seven matches for the nationwide staff in 2025 and is a key half to the overachieving Crystal Palace staff in England.

World Cup Group L schedule

June 17: England vs. Croatia, Ghana vs. Panama
June 23: England vs. Ghana, Panama vs. Croatia
June 27: Panama vs England, Croatia vs. Ghana

US Draw assistant Shaquille O’Neal poses on the purple carpet upon arrival to attend the draw for the 2026 FIFA Soccer World Cup going down within the US, Canada and Mexico, on the Kennedy Heart, in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025.

Chief Soccer Officer of FIFA Jill Ellis poses on the purple carpet upon arrival to attend the draw for the 2026 FIFA Soccer World Cup going down within the US, Canada and Mexico, on the Kennedy Heart, in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025.

Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, attends the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Heart for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Purple Carpet Host Eli Manning and Draw Assistant Shaquille O’Neal arrive on the purple carpet forward of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw.

Former footballer Blaise Matuidi arrives on the purple carpet forward of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw.

Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella arrives on the purple carpet forward of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw.

Javier Pastore poses on the purple carpet previous to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Heart for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC.

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 World Cup group of demise? England will get brutal draw vs Croatia

ABHISHEK TIWARI

I’m Abhishek Tiwari, sharing simple and accurate updates on technology, smartphones, gadgets, cars, bikes and electric vehicles on imgalive.in.

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