Group L at the 2026 World Cup: Results & Market Scorecard

TL;DR:

Group L of the 2026 World Cup is complete. Croatia, England, Ghana reached the knockout rounds; the group's deepest run was Croatia — Round of 32 — lost 2–1 to Portugal. Spain won the tournament, beating Argentina 1–0 after extra time on July 19. This page keeps the group's result on record and scores how the pre-tournament group-winner markets held up — then points at the 2026-27 club-season contracts trading now.

Group L of the World Cup 2026 featured England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. This page looks back at how these teams performed in the tournament and how prediction markets priced their chances before kickoff.

How Group L played out

In Group L, England secured first place, living up to their pre-tournament billing. Croatia finished second, also progressing to the knockout stages. Ghana and Panama did not advance.

How far did England go at the 2026 World Cup?

England had a strong tournament, reaching the third-place playoff where they defeated France 6–4 after losing their semifinal match 2–1 to Argentina. Before the tournament, England was considered a strong contender, trading around 55-68¢ to win their group.

How far did Croatia go at the 2026 World Cup?

Croatia advanced from Group L but was eliminated in the Round of 32 after losing 2–1 to Portugal. Before the tournament, markets had Croatia priced as the most credible challenger to England in the group.

How did Ghana and Panama perform at the 2026 World Cup?

Ghana and Panama both exited the tournament in the group stage. Ghana's reach-Round-of-32 contract traded around 30-38¢ pre-tournament, reflecting their potential as a dark horse. Panama's advancement contract was the cheapest CONCACAF position in the tournament, and they ultimately did not progress.

England was the consensus favorite in Group L and ultimately reached the bronze final, while Croatia also advanced from the group.

Archived market data: Group L

The price movements below reflect how markets reacted to squad announcements, pre-tournament friendlies, and early group stage results for teams in Group L.

Looking ahead to the 2026-27 club season

With the World Cup concluded, attention now turns to the upcoming 2026-27 club season. Markets are already active on Kalshi and Polymarket for various leagues and competitions, including the Champions League winner, Premier League title and top four, LaLiga, Serie A, and the Ballon d'Or. You can also trade on individual match results throughout the season.

These platforms, both federally regulated and legal in most US states, offer opportunities to trade on the outcomes of major football events. Trade responsibly. If it stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Sources

Every figure on this page is checked against primary sources — regulator filings, exchange documentation and official results. Prices and rules change; verify with the operator before trading.

1. Kalshi Help Center — fees, funding and account rules — Kalshi
2. Polymarket documentation — markets, fees and resolution — Polymarket
3. 2026 men's World Cup fixtures, results and standings — ESPN
4. Soccer coverage and match reports — Associated Press
5. Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) — U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
6. The Commodity Exchange Act & regulations — U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Keep reading

• Group A at the 2026 World Cup: Results & Market Scorecard
• Group B at the 2026 World Cup: Results & Market Scorecard
• Group C at the 2026 World Cup: Results & Market Scorecard

Frequently asked questions

Who won Group L at the 2026 World Cup?

Croatia, England, Ghana came through Group L into the knockout rounds. The group's deepest run was Croatia — Round of 32 — lost 2–1 to Portugal.

How many teams advanced from Group L?

The top two advanced automatically, and under the 48-team format the eight best third-placed teams across all twelve groups also went through to the Round of 32.

When did Group L play?

Group L played its three matchdays between June 13 and June 26, 2026. The tournament finished on July 19, 2026.

Did prediction markets price Group L correctly?

Group-winner contracts on Kalshi and Polymarket settled at $1.00 or $0.00 in late June. The recurring lesson from 2026 was that reputation-heavy names carried a 3–5 point premium over what results justified.

What football markets can I trade now?

Kalshi and Polymarket have both rolled football contracts over to the 2026-27 club season: Champions League winner, Premier League title and top four, LaLiga, Serie A and Ballon d'Or. Both are federally regulated and legal in most US states.