England seal knockout spot—who awaits in round of 32 if they top Group L?

Three Lions have cemented their spot in the knockout stages as results in other group fixtures got their way on Friday, June 26, 2026.

England boss Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man squad is currently leading in Group L with four points, following a stunning win in their opener against Croatia and then a shock 0-0 draw against Ghana on Tuesday night.

England's performance throughout the group stage highlights that they are going to finish in the top three places of Group L, with Panama already eliminated from the tournament.

Now the most concerned question among British soccer fans is making a buzz: who do the Three Lions face in the round of 32 if they finish first in Group L?

To answer this, we safely can draw conclusions, keeping in mind Three Lions' current standing in Group L.

If Tuchel’s side finishes first in the group, they will face a third-placed team—currently that appears to be Senegal or Congo DR but that scenario could change overnight depending on the results.

Three Lions will play their last Group L fixture against Panama at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday, June 27, 2026.