World Cup 2026 Game Planning

Tactical previews, key players, head-to-head history, and what to watch for at all three group stage matches. Written with two audiences in mind: Luka (11, the football nerd) and Maja (7, along for the adventure).

Group L Overview

Full Group Schedule

Note: Final matchday games are simultaneous (Jun 27, 5 PM ET) to prevent strategic play.

Format Reminder (48-Team World Cup)

• 12 groups of 4 teams. Top 2 from each group advance (24 teams).
• Best 8 third-place teams also advance -> 32 teams total in the knockout round.
• This means finishing 3rd isn’t a death sentence. A good 3rd-place finish (4+ points, positive goal difference) likely gets you through.

Pre-Tournament Predictions

Most experts predict: 1. England, 2. Croatia, 3. Ghana, 4. Panama. But Ghana is considered a dark horse, and Croatia’s aging squad is a concern. Group L is one of the tougher groups in the tournament.

Match 1: England vs Croatia

Wednesday, June 17 – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 4:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM CT
Attendance: ~80,000 (largest venue of the three)

The Storyline

This is the rematch. Eight years of emotional baggage.

2018 World Cup Semifinal, Moscow: England took the lead in the 5th minute through a Kieran Trippier free kick. The entire country of England erupted – “It’s Coming Home” was playing in every pub. But Croatia, as they always do, refused to die. Ivan Perisic equalized in the 68th minute. Then, in the 109th minute of extra time, Mario Mandzukic pounced on a loose ball and scored the winner. Croatia reached their first-ever World Cup final. England was devastated.

Since then: England beat Croatia 1-0 at Euro 2020 group stage (Raheem Sterling goal). But the 2018 wound still stings. English fans want revenge. Croatian fans want to prove it wasn’t a fluke.

For the kids: “Croatia beat England in the biggest game they’d ever played – the World Cup semifinal in 2018. England has been waiting 8 years to get revenge. It’s like a rematch of the biggest fight ever.”

England

Manager: Thomas Tuchel (German, formerly of Chelsea and Bayern Munich)

• Took over in late 2024 after Gareth Southgate resigned
• Won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021
• Tactical shape: likely 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3
• Philosophy: structured, defensively solid, quick transitions
• Led England through a perfect qualifying campaign

Key Players:

Strengths: Depth everywhere. Can rotate world-class players without dropping quality. Set-piece threat (Kane, Bellingham, Foden all dangerous from dead balls). Tuchel brings tactical discipline that Southgate sometimes lacked.

Weaknesses: Have historically underperformed at major tournaments despite talent. Can be slow to start games. Defense can be exposed against quick counter-attacks.

For the kids: “England has SO many famous players. Bellingham plays for Real Madrid – he’s like a superhero midfielder who scores incredible goals. Kane is their best striker ever. Saka is super fast. They’re one of the favorites to win the whole World Cup.”

Croatia

Manager: Zlatko Dalic (in charge since 2017 – 9 years!)

• Led Croatia to the 2018 WC final and 2022 WC 3rd place
• One of the longest-tenured national team managers in the world
• Tactical shape: 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, possession-based
• Philosophy: keep the ball, control tempo, trust the midfield

Key Players:

Strengths: The midfield. Modric-Kovacic is still one of the best midfield partnerships in international football, even at their ages. Incredible tournament pedigree – this generation has reached the final (2018), third place (2022), and Nations League final (2023). They know how to play big games.

Weaknesses: Age. This is a transitional squad. Modric is 40, Perisic 37, Kramaric 34. The legs aren’t what they were. They’ll need to manage the game rather than outrun opponents. The Dallas heat (95°F outside, though the stadium is air-conditioned) won’t help older legs.

For the kids: “Luka – you’re named after Luka Modric! He’s 40 years old and this is probably his LAST World Cup ever. He won the Ballon d’Or – that means he was voted the best player in the whole world. He left Real Madrid last year and now plays for AC Milan in Italy. This might be the last time we ever see him play for Croatia. Every touch of the ball could be one of his last.”

Head-to-Head Record

Key meetings:

• 2018 WC Semifinal: Croatia 2-1 England (AET, Mandzukic 109')
• Euro 2020 Group: England 1-0 Croatia (Sterling 57')
• 2008 Euro Qualifying: Croatia won home and away, knocking England out
• 2010 WC Qualifying: England won 4-1 and 5-1

What to Watch For

1. Modric vs Bellingham – two generations of elite midfielders. Modric was the best in the world 8 years ago; Bellingham may be the best right now. Watch how they find space between the lines.
2. Croatia’s game management – they’ll try to keep possession, slow the tempo, and frustrate England. If England get impatient, Croatia pounce.
3. Gvardiol vs Saka – this will be a physical, athletic battle on the flank. Both are world-class.
4. England’s set pieces – with Bellingham, Kane, and the height they have, England are dangerous from corners and free kicks.
5. The atmosphere – 80,000 people, massive English support (they travel in huge numbers), passionate Croatian fans. The noise will be extraordinary.

What’s at Stake

Opening group game – both teams want 3 points to control their destiny. A win here almost guarantees knockout stage qualification. A loss doesn’t eliminate anyone, but puts immediate pressure on the loser heading into their next match.

If Croatia win, it would be a statement: the old guard can still compete. If England win, it validates them as genuine title contenders.

Atmosphere & Fan Culture

• English fans: “It’s Coming Home” (their anthem since 1996). They’ll sing it loud and proud. Organized, passionate, massive in numbers. Expect 30,000-40,000 English fans in an 80,000 stadium. They fill pubs, create atmosphere everywhere they go.
• Croatian fans: Red-and-white checkerboard everything. Passionate, emotional, loud. Toronto has a big Croatian diaspora, but Dallas will have fewer – the hardcore fans who traveled from Croatia will make up for it with intensity.

Match 2: Panama vs Croatia

Tuesday, June 23 – BMO Field, Toronto – 7:00 PM ET
Attendance: ~30,000 (smallest, most intimate venue)

The Storyline

This is Croatia’s “must-manage” game. Panama are the weakest team in the group, and Croatia need to take care of business. But Panama have nothing to lose and everything to prove – this is only their second World Cup ever.

The real storyline is Modric playing in front of Toronto’s large Croatian community. This could feel like a home game. And it’s a Tuesday evening under the lights – intimate, electric.

For the kids: “Panama is a tiny country – only 4 million people! This is only the second time they’ve ever been to a World Cup. They’re massive underdogs, but that makes them dangerous – they have nothing to lose. Croatia need to win this game.”

Panama

Manager: Thomas Christiansen (Danish-Spanish, born in Copenhagen to a Spanish mother and Danish father)

• Has managed Panama since 2023
• Playing style: organized, compact, physical, counter-attacking

Key Players:

Strengths: Organized defensively, hard to break down. Physical and combative. Will run all day. Counter-attacking ability – if they nick a goal and sit deep, they can be a nightmare.

Weaknesses: Limited quality compared to Croatia and England. Their 2018 World Cup saw them lose all 3 group games (0-3 Belgium, 1-6 England, 1-2 Tunisia). They’ve improved since then, but the gap in individual quality is real.

Panama’s 2018 World Cup Moment: They scored their first-ever World Cup goal (Felipe Baloy vs England). The entire Panama bench erupted. Their fans were crying with joy. It didn’t matter that they lost 6-1 – that single goal was historic. Expect similar emotion if they score here.

For the kids: “When Panama scored their first ever World Cup goal in 2018, the whole country declared a holiday! The players were crying, the fans were crying – everyone was so happy. Imagine if they score against Croatia – it would mean the world to them.”

Head-to-Head Record

Panama and Croatia have no significant competitive history. This will be their first World Cup meeting.

What to Watch For

1. Croatia’s tempo control – expect Croatia to dominate possession (65%+). The question is whether they can break down Panama’s compact defense.
2. Modric’s farewell tour – every touch in front of Toronto’s Croatian community will be appreciated. Watch for standing ovations.
3. Panama’s physicality – they’ll foul, they’ll tackle hard, they’ll try to disrupt Croatia’s rhythm. Don’t be surprised by yellow cards.
4. The counter-attack – Panama will sit deep and hit Croatia on the break. If Fajardo or Waterman get in behind, they can hurt you.
5. Substitution patterns – Dalic may rest some older legs (Modric, Perisic) if the game is comfortable, saving energy for the Ghana decider.

What’s at Stake

Depends entirely on Match 1 results:

• If Croatia beat England (Jun 17): This is a coronation. Win here and Croatia are through with a game to spare.
• If Croatia drew with England: Must-win. A draw here would leave Croatia needing a result against Ghana.
• If Croatia lost to England: Absolutely must-win. Lose here and Croatia are in serious danger of elimination.

Also at play: Ghana vs Panama is on Jun 18 (the day after Match 1). Those results will reshape the group picture before this game.

Atmosphere & Fan Culture

• Croatian fans in Toronto: Toronto has one of the largest Croatian communities outside of Croatia. Expect this to feel like a home game – red-and-white checkerboard shirts everywhere, Croatian restaurants in the west end packed before the game.
• Panamanian fans: Smaller contingent, but Latin American fans bring incredible energy – drums, chanting, flags, dancing. They’ll make noise well beyond their numbers.
• BMO Field: Only 30,000 seats. This is intimate. Every chant reverberates. The atmosphere per-seat will be the best of the three games.

Match 3: Croatia vs Ghana

Saturday, June 27 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5:00 PM ET
Attendance: ~69,000

The Storyline

The final group game. All Group L matches are played simultaneously at 5 PM ET on June 27 (Croatia vs Ghana in Philly, England vs Panama in Nashville). By kickoff, the group standings after 2 games will be known. This could be a dead rubber – or it could be everything.

For the kids: “This is the last chance. After this game, two or three teams go through and the rest go home. Ghana are from West Africa – they have some of the most exciting fans in the world. They drum and dance and sing for 90 minutes straight.”

Ghana

Manager: Otto Addo (German-Ghanaian, born in Hamburg to Ghanaian parents)

• Returned to the Ghana role in 2024 after previously coaching them at the 2022 World Cup
• Philosophy: energetic, physical, front-foot football
• Qualified by finishing 1st in CAF Group I (8 wins, 1 loss in 10 matches)

Key Players:

Strengths: Athleticism. Ghana are one of the most physically gifted teams in the tournament. Speed on the counter (Williams, Semenyo), power in midfield (Partey, Kudus), and genuine goalscoring threat. They also have deep World Cup pedigree – this is their 5th World Cup.

Weaknesses: Inconsistency. Ghana can look world-class one game and disjointed the next. Defensive organization can break down. Ranked 72nd for a reason – the talent is there, but the system isn’t as polished as England’s or Croatia’s.

Ghana’s World Cup History (for context):

• 2006: Reached Round of 16 in their debut
• 2010: Reached quarterfinal. One of the most dramatic World Cup moments ever – Luis Suarez handled the ball on the line in the last minute of extra time (red card), Asamoah Gyan hit the penalty off the crossbar, and Ghana lost the shootout to Uruguay. Africa has never been closer to a World Cup semifinal.
• 2014: Group stage exit
• 2022: Group stage exit (lost to Portugal, beat South Korea, lost to Uruguay in a rematch)

For the kids: “Ghana almost made it to the World Cup semifinal in 2010 – they would have been the first African team ever to do it. A player named Suarez literally used his hand to stop a goal (like a handball in the last second!), got a red card, but Ghana missed the penalty kick after. It’s one of the most heartbreaking moments in World Cup history. Ghana’s fans are AMAZING – they drum and dance the entire game.”

Head-to-Head Record

Croatia and Ghana have never met in a competitive match. This is their first World Cup encounter.

What to Watch For

1. Kudus vs the Croatian midfield – Kudus is powerful and explosive. If he gets running at the Croatian defense, he’s almost unstoppable. Modric and Kovacic will need to cut the supply.
2. Williams’ pace – Inaki Williams might be the fastest player at the World Cup. If Croatia’s aging defenders get caught in a foot race, they’ll lose.
3. Croatia’s fitness – this is their third game in 10 days. The older players (Modric, Perisic, Kramaric) will be running on fumes. Watch for heavy legs, slower reactions.
4. The group math – check the standings before kickoff. If Croatia need a draw, expect a cagey game. If they need a win, it’ll be open and exciting.
5. Atmosphere – Ghanaian fans bring drums, flags, and non-stop singing. Combined with Philadelphia’s America 250 celebrations and Croatian fans, this will be a party.

What’s at Stake

Scenarios entering the final matchday:

The drama of the final matchday is one of the best things about the World Cup. Both games at 5 PM – you can’t watch the other results. Pure tension.

Atmosphere & Fan Culture

• Ghanaian fans: Drums. Dancing. Singing. Non-stop. Ghana brings some of the best fan culture in world football. Expect organized drum sections, coordinated chanting, and pure joy.
• Croatian fans: The east coast Croatian diaspora will be here. Philly, NYC, DC – they’ll converge. Checkered shirts, scarves, and the songs that have carried Croatia through 8 years of tournaments.
• Philly’s own energy: America 250 celebrations happening simultaneously. The FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill. This city will be electric.
• Saturday evening, 5 PM: Perfect timing. The stadium will be full, the sun will be setting during the second half (sunset ~8:30 PM), and the stakes could be everything.

The Big Picture: Modric’s Last Dance

The emotional thread across all three games is Luka Modric.

• Born September 9, 1985. He’ll be 40 years old at the World Cup.
• 194+ caps for Croatia – all-time record.
• 2018 Ballon d’Or – broke the Messi/Ronaldo decade-long duopoly.
• Left Real Madrid in 2025 after 13 years and 28 trophies (6 Champions Leagues).
• Joined AC Milan – fulfilling a childhood dream.
• This is almost certainly his last World Cup. He’s said as much.

Every game in this group stage could be one of his final games in a Croatia shirt. When he touches the ball in Dallas (80,000 people), Toronto (30,000 Croatian fans), or Philadelphia (the final group game), it might be the last time.

For Luka (the kid): “You’re named after him. Watch everything he does – how he receives the ball, how he turns, how he sees passes nobody else sees. He’s 40 and he’s still one of the smartest players on the pitch. This is probably the last time you’ll ever see him play for Croatia. Remember every moment.”

Explaining the World Cup to the Kids

Simple Concepts to Teach Before the Trip

1. The group stage: “There are 4 teams in our group. Everyone plays each other once. The top 2 (and sometimes 3rd place) go through to the next round.”

2. Why it matters: “If Croatia lose, they might go home. If they win, they keep playing. Every goal matters.”

3. Offside: “You can’t just stand next to the goalkeeper waiting for the ball. You have to be behind the last defender when the ball is kicked to you.” (Use salt shakers at dinner to demonstrate.)

4. VAR: “There are people watching on TV screens who can tell the referee if he made a mistake. Sometimes the game stops and they check the replay.”

5. The anthems: “Before the game starts, both teams stand in a line and their country’s song plays. Everyone in the stadium sings along. It gives you goosebumps.”

6. The wave: Maja will love starting or joining a stadium wave.

7. The scarves: Get Croatian scarves for both kids before the trip. Holding them up during the anthem is a World Cup tradition.

Things to Look For During the Game

• Watch the goalkeeper’s positioning – are they standing in the right spot?
• Count the passes – Croatia will try to pass, pass, pass. England will try to go fast.
• Spot the captain’s armband – who’s wearing it? That’s the leader.
• Listen to the crowd – when the crowd gets loud, something exciting is about to happen.
• Watch for the substitution board – when the numbers go up, someone’s coming off and someone new is coming on.

Sources

• FOX Sports: Croatia World Cup 2026 Preview
• FOX Sports: England World Cup 2026 Preview
• FOX Sports: Ghana World Cup 2026 Preview
• FourFourTwo: Croatia World Cup 2026 Squad
• FourFourTwo: England World Cup 2026 Squad
• FourFourTwo: Panama World Cup 2026 Squad
• FourFourTwo: Ghana World Cup 2026 Squad
• NBC Sports: Group Stage Predictions
• ESPN: 2026 World Cup Group Predictions
• FIFA: World Cup 2026 Format Explained
• Sky Sports: England vs Croatia 2018 Semifinal
• beIN Sports: Modric Retirement Plans
• 11v11: England vs Croatia Head-to-Head
• FIFA: Croatia Team Profile
• FIFA: Panama Team Profile
• Ghana FA: Group L Draw
• ESPN: FIFA Rankings January 2026