2026 FIFA World Cup Draw: Ghana Placed in Tough Group with England, Croatia and Panama
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially placed Ghana’s Black Stars in Group L, setting up a challenging but exciting campaign as they prepare to face England, Croatia, and Panama.
The draw, held on Friday, December 5, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., confirmed all 12 groups for the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
🇬🇭 Ghana’s Group: L
- England
- Croatia
- Ghana
- Panama
For Ghana, the matchup against England will be highly anticipated, while Croatia’s strong tournament pedigree makes them another major test. Panama rounds out the group as the underdog but capable of surprises.
Key Highlights From the Draw
- The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams split into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams and eight best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage.
- France has been drawn in Group I alongside Senegal, Norway and a playoff winner a group expected to draw massive global interest.
- Traditional giants like Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Spain all received balanced but competitive groupings.
What This Means for Ghana
The Black Stars will need to be at their best to advance from Group L. England enter as group favourites, while Croatia brings years of consistency and experience on the world stage. But Ghana’s young, energetic squad backed by one of Africa’s most passionate fan bases will aim to defy expectations.
The full match schedule will be released by FIFA in the coming days, outlining venues and dates for all group-stage fixtures.
Ghana now turns its attention to preparations, with fans across the nation already buzzing for what promises to be an unforgettable World Cup journey.