England Draw Croatia, Ghana and Panama in 2026 World Cup Group; Scotland Face Brazil Test

The 2026 World Cup draw has dealt England a hand they'll fancy navigating, with Thomas Tuchel's men landing Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L. It's a repeat of 2018 semi-final business against the Croatians to kick things off—this time in Dallas on June 17—before facing Ghana on June 23 and wrapping up the group stage against Panama on June 27.

As one of the tournament's top four seeds, England were strategically separated from Spain, Argentina and France. Should the four seeded nations top their respective groups, they cannot cross paths until the semi-finals. Victory in Group L would set up a last-32 meeting with a third-placed team, with Mexico or Brazil potentially waiting in the quarter-finals—Scotland among those possibilities if they make it through.

For the Scots, it's a World Cup return after a 28-year absence. Steve Clarke's squad must navigate a stern Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti. Their opening fixture comes against Haiti in Boston—a match carrying real significance for both sides' qualification hopes. The group concludes with a trip to Miami to face Brazil on June 24.

The tournament itself opens with Mexico taking on South Africa in Mexico City on June 11, mirroring the 2010 World Cup's opening pairing when South Africa were hosts.

The draw also confirmed the final four UEFA play-off qualifiers and two inter-confederation play-off winners: Bosnia, Sweden, Turkey, Czechia, DR Congo and Iraq fill the slots that carried placeholders when the draw took place.