England tops Group L as Croatia and Ghana clinch World Cup round‑of‑32 berths

England defeated Panama 2‑0 with goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, finishing atop Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kane’s second goal made him England’s all‑time World Cup leading scorer with 11 goals. Croatia beat Ghana 2‑1, securing second place in the group and setting up a round‑of‑32 clash with Portugal. Despite a 2‑1 loss to Croatia, Ghana earned a spot among the tournament’s best third‑placed teams and will face Colombia in the knockout stage. Ghana’s coach Carlos Queiroz used the matches to criticize the 48‑team format, saying the expanded field reduces the competition’s prestige.