ENGLAND are closing in on the knockout stages of the World Cup!

are in pole position for top spot in Group L, despite drawing .

England v Croatia: Group L - FIFA World Cup 2026England are in pole position to win Group L Credit: Getty England v Croatia: Group L - FIFA World Cup 2026Thomas Tuchel is looking to win the World Cup in his first international tournament Credit: Getty

‘s side play in their final group stage clash in New York tonight.

are top of Group L ahead of Ghana on goal difference, meaning they just need to match or better the Black Stars’ result against Croatia to secure their spot at the summit.

has all the details on who the Three Lions could play in the round-of-32 if they top the group and if they fall short.

Who could England play in last-32 at World Cup 2026 if they win the group?

Should England win Group L, they will face one of the eight best-third placed sides in the last-32 in Atlanta on Wednesday, July 1.

The Three Lions’ potential opponents are Senegal, DR Congo, Algeria or Austria.

and are the most likely of the four to be England’s last-32 opponents.

If DR Congo beat Group K’s bottom side Uzbekistan, they will face the Three Lions.

Should the African nation lose or draw, then England will take on Senegal, unless lose to .

England could play the third-place side from Group J, either Austria or Algeria, who play each other in their final group-stage clash.

Should DR Congo draw or lose and Croatia lose and Austria and Algeria draw to move Group J into the top eight, England would play .

Tuchel’s men could still face if they lose by one goal and Croatia lose and DR Congo fail to win.

If DR Congo draw or lose and Croatia lose and Group J fails to claim a spot as one of the best eight third-place sides, England will take on Senegal.

The Three Lions will know their opponents for definite once the group stage concludes in the early hours of Sunday morning in the UK.

Here are the latest third-place rankings:

Saturday 27 June
Panama
Panama-flag
22:00
Group L
England-flag
England
Croatia
Croatia-flag
22:00
Group L
Ghana-flag
Ghana
Sunday 28 June
Colombia
Colombia-flag
00:30
Group K
Portugal-flag-1
Portugal
Congo DR
Congo-dr
00:30
Group K
Uzbekistan-flag
Uzbekistan
Saturday 27 June
Group A P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
3
0
0
6
9
2
3
1
1
1
-1
4
3
3
1
0
2
-1
3
4
3
0
1
2
-4
1
Group B P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
2
1
0
4
7
2
3
1
1
1
5
4
3
3
1
1
1
-1
4
4
3
0
1
2
-8
1
Group C P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
2
1
0
6
7
2
3
2
1
0
3
7
3
3
1
0
2
-3
3
4
3
0
0
3
-6
0
Group D P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
2
0
1
4
6
2
3
1
1
1
0
4
3
3
1
1
1
-2
4
4
3
1
0
2
-2
3
Group E P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
2
0
1
6
6
2
3
2
0
1
2
6
3
3
1
1
1
0
4
4
3
0
1
2
-8
1
Group F P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
2
1
0
6
7
2
3
1
2
0
4
5
3
3
1
1
1
0
4
4
3
0
0
3
-10
0
Group G P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
1
2
0
4
5
2
3
1
2
0
2
5
3
3
0
3
0
0
3
4
3
0
1
2
-6
1
Group H P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
2
1
0
5
7
2
3
0
3
0
0
3
3
3
0
2
1
-1
2
4
3
0
2
1
-4
2
Group I P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
3
0
0
8
9
2
3
2
0
1
1
6
3
3
1
0
2
2
3
4
3
0
0
3
-11
0
Group J P W D L GD PTS Form
1
2
2
0
0
5
6
2
2
1
0
1
0
3
3
2
1
0
1
-2
3
4
2
0
0
2
-3
0
Group K P W D L GD PTS Form
1
2
2
0
0
3
6
2
2
1
1
0
5
4
3
2
0
1
1
-1
1
4
2
0
0
2
-7
0
Group L P W D L GD PTS Form
1
2
1
1
0
2
4
2
2
1
1
0
1
4
3
2
1
0
1
-1
3
4
2
0
0
2
-2
0
3rd Place Ranking P W D L GD PTS Form
1
3
1
1
1
0
4
2
3
1
1
1
0
4
3
3
1
1
1
-1
4
4
3
1
1
1
-2
4
5
3
1
0
2
2
3
6
3
0
3
0
0
3
7
2
1
0
1
-1
3
8
3
1
0
2
-1
3
9
2
1
0
1
-2
3
10
3
1
0
2
-3
3
11
3
0
2
1
-1
2
12
2
0
1
1
-1
1

Who would England play if they finished second in the group?

If England were to finish second in Group L, they would take a totally different route.

The Three Lions would play the runners-up in Group K, which would likely be either Portugal or Colombia.

That last-32 clash would take place at 12am on Friday, July 3, in Toronto.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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