New Jersey: England and Panama face off in World Cup group stage finale
28.06.2026
Match Overview and Early Play
The World Cup 2026 group stage is concluding, with England facing Panama in a Group L fixture at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The match began after a moment of silence to honour those affected by recent earthquakes in Venezuela. Despite heavy rain in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a strong atmosphere was reported as the teams took to the field.
Early in the match, Panama initiated play with a long pass, leading to an early shot from Tomas Rodriguez from approximately 20 yards, which was saved by Jordan Pickford. England quickly established dominance in possession, holding nearly 70% of the ball in the initial 17 minutes. Marcus Rashford created an early opportunity in the 8th minute, cutting in from the left and forcing a save from Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
England continued to press, with Jude Bellingham attempting a shot from distance and Bukayo Saka also having an effort saved. Panama, despite being pushed back, maintained their defensive shape. There were moments of danger for England, such as a play in the 16th minute where Jose Luis Rodriguez advanced into space. Panama also showed willingness to attack down both flanks when opportunities arose.
Team Changes and Managerial Comments
Both teams made changes to their starting lineups for this crucial match. Panama made three alterations following their 1-0 defeat to Croatia. Fidel Escobar and Jorge Gutiérrez entered the defence, replacing Jiovany Ramos and César Blackman, while Tomás Rodríguez started upfront in place of José Fajardo. Panama hopes to introduce Adalberto Carrasquilla, who has not yet played in this World Cup, later in the game.
England manager Thomas Tuchel made five changes from the goalless draw against Ghana. Jarell Quansah started at right-back due to Reece James’s hamstring injury, and Nico O’Reilly reclaimed the left-back position from Djed Spence. Declan Rice was rested, with Morgan Rogers taking his place in a more attacking midfield role. Upfront, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford replaced Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon.
Speaking before the match, Thomas Tuchel expressed confidence in his team, stating they felt well-prepared and had a strong squad. He highlighted the team’s offensive capabilities and the goal to speed up the game. Tuchel also mentioned managing Declan Rice’s minutes due to a knock and a yellow card, and confirmed Jude Bellingham would play in the 8 position with Morgan Rogers in the 10 position.
Group L Standings and Knockout Stage Implications
Heading into the final matchday, the top two spots in Group L were still contested. England entered the match atop the standings based on goal differential, with Ghana and Croatia close behind. England can secure the group with a win over Panama, while Ghana and Croatia are set to face each other with a spot in the Round of 32 and potentially first place on the line. Even the losing team in the Ghana vs. Croatia match could remain in contention for one of the eight third-place berths.
Panama has been eliminated from the tournament but could still influence the group standings. England is considered a strong favourite in this fixture. Harry Kane is also aiming to become England’s all-time World Cup scoring leader, currently tied with Gary Lineker at 10 goals. The World Cup group stage concludes on Saturday with Groups J, K, and L returning to the pitch.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | Ghana | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Croatia | 2 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Panama | 2 | -2 | 0 |
In other group stage action, Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are scheduled to play Colombia for the top spot in Group K, with Colombia securing first place with a win or a draw. Meanwhile, DR Congo will meet Uzbekistan, with both teams needing a victory to stay in the tournament. France manager Didier Deschamps rejoined his team for their Round of 32 match against Sweden in New Jersey after leaving for a family matter.
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Source: theguardian.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.