World Cup Progression
England secures Group L lead with Kane's decisive goal, setting up favorable knockout path
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England topped Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a clean 2-0 win over Panama on June 27, finishing with 7 points from three matches. Harry Kane scored his 11th career World Cup goal in the process, passing Gary Lineker to become England's all-time leading World Cup scorer, according to BBC Sport.
Croatia and Ghana also advance to the Round of 32. Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 in Vancouver to grab second place with 6 points. Ghana drops to third on 4 points but still qualifies as one of the best third-placed sides. Panama exits without scoring a single goal in 270 minutes of play — the only team in the 2026 tournament to finish scoreless, per Opta Sports.
Kane Breaks Record, England Seals Top Spot in Miami
England controlled the game from kick-off at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, in front of a sold-out crowd of 65,326. Jude Bellingham scored one goal and set up another for Kane, per Daily Sun. The win ended England's minor crisis of confidence after their shock 1-1 draw with Ghana on June 21 — the first time an African nation had taken points off England at a World Cup since Algeria in 2010, according to The Guardian.
Kane reflected on the milestone after the final whistle. "The record is a proud moment, but the clean sheet and the top spot are what matter," he said, per BBC Sport. "We felt the pressure after the Ghana draw, but we showed our maturity today." England manager Eddie Howe added: "We controlled the tempo from the first whistle. This is the momentum we need for the knockouts," according to Sky Sports News.
Croatia Edges Ghana in Vancouver to Clinch Second Place
Croatia came into their final match needing a win to stay ahead of Ghana. They delivered, beating the Black Stars 2-1 at BC Place in Vancouver. Croatia captain Joško Gvardiol said after the match: "People count Croatia out every four years, and every four years we prove them wrong," per the HINA News Agency. ESPN FC called the performance a "masterclass in aging gracefully," noting Croatia's ability to slow the game down and neutralize Ghana's speed.
Ghana's captain Thomas Partey stayed upbeat despite the loss. "We have four points. We did the hard work early. Africa will be proud of how we are competing on this stage," he said, according to Joy Sports Ghana. Ghana's 4-point total and goal difference of +2 are enough to qualify them as one of the top four third-place finishers in the expanded 48-team tournament.
Panama Exits Scoreless, Marking a Historic Low
Panama finishes with 0 points, 0 goals scored, and a goal difference of -7. They conceded 7 goals across three matches — 3 to Ghana, 2 to Croatia, and 2 to England. The New York Times described England's win over Panama as "procedural rather than competitive," and argued that Panama's inclusion highlights the risks of the 48-team expansion, which critics say creates mismatches in the group stage.
This is only Panama's second World Cup appearance. In their first, in 2018, they scored just twice in three games. In 2026, they failed to score at all. Panama's defensive effort drew some credit even in defeat. La Prensa noted that while the team failed to find the net, their defensive showing against England showed "significant growth for the national program."
What Comes Next for England, Croatia, and Ghana
England, as Group L winners, will travel to Los Angeles for a Round of 32 match against the third-place finisher from Group D. Croatia will face the Group K winner in Dallas. The Athletic noted that England's path through the group was built on "meticulous game management" rather than flair, using a 4-3-3 system that stretched Panama's five-man backline with wide play.
Back home, England fans are celebrating cautiously. A poll by YouGov Sport found that 58% of England supporters are "cautiously optimistic" rather than "confident" about reaching the semi-finals. Ghana's advancement also carries wider significance — Bloomberg Quint reports a 22% spike in ad spending from regional telecom sponsors in West Africa following Ghana's strong group stage showing.
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