As the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage continues, the competition for the Round of 32 spots heats up. England is the latest team to confirm their place in the knockout stage, joining others whose World Cup hopes remain alive.
England, hoping to solidify its hold on the top of the group, ran into a stifling defense from Ghana. After 90 minutes and myriad chances, the two sides walk away with a 0-0 draw and a share of the points.
England kicked off their World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia. Captain Harry Kane opened the scoring, but Martin Baturina quickly equalized for Croatia in the first half. The action continued as Kane found the net again in the 42nd minute, only for Petar Musa to level the match just before halftime. The second half saw England waste no time regaining control, with Jude Bellingham scoring immediately after the restart. Marcus Rashford sealed the win with a decisive goal, allowing England to claim all three points and build momentum early in the tournament.
The draw ensures England and Ghana will remain tied atop Group I regardless of the result of the Croatia-Panama match. The Three Lions and Black Stars each have four points apiece, but England’s plus-two goal differential will give it the slight edge to advance as the group winner entering the final group stage matches.
Should England finish as winners of Group L, they will face a third-place finisher from one of Groups E, H, I, J, or K in the Round of 32. However, if England ends up as runners-up in their group, they will be matched against the second-place team from Group K.
Who will England play in the World Cup Round of 32?
If England secures the top spot in Group L, they will earn a matchup against a third-place finisher from one of Groups E, H, I, J, or K in the Round of 32. If England finishes as Group L runners-up, it would see England pitted against the second-place team from Group K.
Here are the nations that England could play if they win Group L:
- Group E: Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Curaçao
- Group H: Uruguay, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia
- Group I: Senegal, Iraq
- Group J: Austria, Algeria
- Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Congo DR, Uzbekistan
Here are the nations that England could face if they place second in Group L:
- Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Congo DR, Uzbekistan
When does England play the round of 32 match?
If England wins Group L, they will play on Wednesday, July 1 at 5 p.m. ET in Atlanta. If they finish as runners-up, their match will be on Friday, July 3 at noon ET in Toronto, Canada.
Jesse Camnker, Jesse Yomtov and Gabriel Zaldivar contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who will England play in World Cup Round of 32? Possible opponents
