If they finish 1st: If England secures the top spot in Group L, they will head to Atlanta for the round of 32. There, they will face off against one of the best third-placed teams from Groups E, H, I, J, or K. That is currently set to be Senegal at 5pm (BST) on Wednesday, July 1.
If they finish 2nd: Should the Three Lions finish as the runners-up in their group, they will travel north to Toronto for their first knockout fixture. Their opponent will be the second-placed team from Group K, which is currently shaping up to be Portugal . This fixture would take place at 12am (BST) on Friday, July 3.
If they finish 3rd: If England slips to third but still advances as one of the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament, they will be heading to Kansas City. In this scenario, they are set to play the winner of Group K, which is currently poised to be Colombia .
Current standings: As of today, June 27, 2026, England are sitting at the top of Group L with four points after opening their tournament with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia. They followed up that strong start with a tense 0-0 draw against Ghana, leaving them tied on points but holding the edge on goal difference.
The final group match: Their final group match is taking place today in New York-New Jersey against an already-eliminated Panama side. Securing a win in this fixture will guarantee the Three Lions the top spot in their group and a favourable knockout path.
Tournament expectations: The team entered this World Cup carrying massive expectations as they seek their first world title since 1966. This pressure follows an impressive run under manager Thomas Tuchel, leaving fans hopeful that football might finally be coming home.
