Who could England play in the World Cup last 32?

England caput into their last 2026 FIFA World Cup radical crippled with qualification and apical spot some inactive up for grabs. Here is each imaginable Round of 32 script for Thomas Tuchel's side.

Harry Kane scored doubly to adjacent Gary Lineker's all-time England World Cup grounds of 10 goals connected the opening matchday, and a goalless gully against Ghana followed successful matchday two. 

Now, Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions basal 1 effect distant from confirming their spot successful the circular of 32, but however England decorativeness Group L volition person a important bearing connected who awaits them successful the knockout stage.

England and Ghana are some connected 4 points heading into the last matchday, with Panama already eliminated from contention. A triumph against Panama astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford connected Saturday would corroborate England arsenic radical winners, thing little opens the doorway to a much analyzable decorativeness and perchance much unsafe opponents.

With the expanded 48-team format introducing a caller circular of 32, the Three Lions could look respective antithetic opponents depending connected wherever they finish. Sports Mole examines each scenario.

If England triumph Group L

Should England apical Group L, they volition look 1 of the tournament's champion third-placed teams successful the circular of 32 astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium successful Atlanta connected Wednesday, July 1.

Under FIFA's knockout bracket, the Group L winners volition conscionable a third-placed federation from Groups E, H, I, J oregon K. The existent contenders from those groups include:

• Cape Verde (Group H - babelike connected last radical standings)
• DR Congo (Group K - 1 point, inactive live arsenic a imaginable champion third-place qualifier)
• Ecuador (Group E - 3rd aft beating Germany)
• Algeria (Group J - successful contention pending their last fixture)

As things stand, Cape Verde look among the much apt candidates, though the representation crossed the remaining groups volition not beryllium implicit until the last circular of fixtures concludes connected Saturday.

On paper, this represents England's astir favourable way into the knockout rounds, avoiding a bid of higher-ranked radical winners and runners-up.

If England decorativeness 2nd successful Group L

Should England gaffe to 2nd place, their way becomes importantly much demanding.

The Group L runners-up volition look the Group K runners-up successful the circular of 32. That fixture volition beryllium determined by Saturday's Group K finale, which pits Colombia against Portugal astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami. 

Colombia person already qualified with six points from 2 matches, portion Portugal beryllium connected 4 points pursuing their 5-0 dismantling of Uzbekistan.

Depending connected the result of that match, England could meet:

• Colombia - quarter-finalists astatine the 2014 World Cup, boasting the in-form Luis Diaz and Daniel Munoz, who has scored successful some radical games truthful far.
• Portugal - a broadside led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who became the first subordinate successful past to people astatine six World Cup tournaments during this radical stage.

Either fixture would correspond a considerably sterner trial than facing 1 of the 8 champion third-placed qualifiers.

Could England decorativeness third?

Yes, but lone nether a circumstantial operation of results. England would person to suffer their last radical lucifer against Panama, portion Croatia would request to decision Ghana. 

That would permission England and Ghana level connected 4 points, with 2nd and 3rd spot determined by the tournament's tiebreakers.

Because England and Ghana drew 0-0 successful their head-to-head meeting, the teams cannot beryllium separated by the archetypal tiebreaker criteria, and the adjacent measurement would beryllium wide extremity difference.

England presently clasp a extremity quality of positive two, portion Ghana beryllium connected positive one. For England to gaffe beneath Ghana, the Three Lions would request to suffer by a borderline ample capable to spot their extremity quality autumn beneath Ghana's adjusted figure. 

For example, if England were to suffer 3-0 to Panama portion Croatia bushed Ghana 1-0, England's extremity quality would driblet to minus one, beneath Ghana's zero, pushing Tuchel's broadside into 3rd place.

Although mathematically possible, it is not the astir apt result fixed England's existent presumption astatine the apical of Group L.

Should that happen, England would inactive person a way into the circular of 32, provided they fertile among the 8 champion third-placed teams crossed the 12 groups. Under that scenario, England would look the winners of Group K, which volition beryllium either Colombia oregon Portugal.

Given that some those sides person already qualified and participate their last radical crippled successful beardown form, the imaginable of facing the Group K winners arsenic a third-placed squad represents the astir hard imaginable way into the knockout rounds for the Three Lions.

What happens next?

England reason their Group L run against Panama astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, New Jersey connected Saturday, June 27. Victory would warrant apical spot and a spot successful the circular of 32 successful Atlanta connected July 1.

Simultaneously, Croatia look Ghana astatine Lincoln Financial Field successful Philadelphia successful a lucifer that carries large implications for the last Group L standings. Saturday's Colombia vs. Portugal clash astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami volition past find the individuality of the Group K runner-up and with it, 1 of England's astir apt imaginable opponents.

England's circular of 32 hostile volition not beryllium confirmed until each group-stage fixtures person been completed. What is definite is that Tuchel's broadside person the accidental to dictate their ain destiny and a winning show against already-eliminated Panama remains the clearest way to the much favourable draw.