England have booked their spot in the World Cup knockout rounds, with the milestone secured even before kick-off against Panama on Saturday.
Four points from their opening two matches leave Thomas Tuchel’s men assured of at least one of the eight best third-placed berths.
That confirmation arrived courtesy of results elsewhere. Spain’s win over Uruguay on Saturday morning proved decisive, removing the last realistic threat to England’s standing.
A 4-2 victory against Croatia and a stalemate with Ghana had already done much of the heavy lifting.
Who could England face in the World Cup last 32?
First place is still very much on. England top the group on goal difference, while Ghana, also on four points, take on Croatia at the same time.
Both fixtures begin at 22:00 BST on Saturday, and avoiding defeat while equalling Ghana’s outcome would seal top spot.
Win the group, and a meeting with one of the best third-placed sides follows. From there, the calculations grow tangled.
Should DR Congo see off Uzbekistan in their Group K finale, at 00:30 BST on Sunday, the Three Lions would be paired with that group’s third-placed team.
Rob Dorsett explains who England are likely to face in the round of 32, with potential clashes with Portugal & Senegal 🇵🇹 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/f2RiO5n3TO
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 27, 2026
In practice that means DR Congo, the only exception being a Portugal defeat accompanied by a seven-goal swing between the pair. That outcome would instead send England towards Portugal.
A DR Congo draw or loss would point England towards Senegal, provided Croatia do not slip into third by losing to Ghana.
If Croatia were to drop into that bracket, England’s opponent would come from Group J instead, assuming a side qualifies.
That third spot rests between Austria and Algeria, who clash in their last fixture. A stalemate would steer England towards Algeria, with Austria still in the frame should they go down by a single goal.
A heavier Austrian loss would likely end their hopes, restoring Senegal as the probable opponent.
Slip to second, however, and the maths becomes far simpler. England would then be drawn against the Group K runner-up, a position Portugal currently occupy.
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