World Cup 2026 Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama — Footlab Model Breakdown
England enter the 2026 World Cup with a Footlab Elo of 1715 and a recent delta of 3.64 — a dip that sits at odds with their FIFA ranking of #4. Croatia, meanwhile, carry the worst delta in the group at 3.69, reflecting measurable decline after years at the top. On paper, Group L looks manageable for Tuchel's side. The Footlab model quantifies the real gap between perceived hierarchy and objective probabilities — and flags where bookmakers are mispricing each team.
Group L pits four nations with contrasting profiles against each other: a European heavyweight mid-transition, an ageing World Cup finalist, a Ghana side rebuilding around Premier League talent, and a Panama team that has earned its CONCACAF stripes. This analysis uses Footlab's proprietary data to give you a grounded read of the group before a ball is kicked.
Group L World Cup 2026: team ratings at a glance
| Team | Footlab Elo | FIFA Rank | Trend (Δ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1715 | #4 | 3.64 |
| Croatia | 1648 | #13 | 3.69 |
| Ghana | 1419 | #65 | -0.68 |
| Panama | 1515 | #44 | -1.24 |
Source: Footlab Data proprietary Elo engine — data as of 9 June 2026.