England and Panama meet in New Jersey tonight. The Three Lions need a win to secure the top spot in World Cup Group L.
Panama have made three changes from the loss to Croatia – Gutiérrez, Escobar and Tomás Rodríguez come in for Ramos, Fajardo and Blackman. England, meanwhile, have made five changes from their goalless draw against Ghana – Quansah, O’Reilly, Saka, Rogers and Rashford replace the injured Reece James, Gordon, Rice, Madueke and Spence.
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Panama and England’s only previous meeting was in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, where England won 6-1 – their biggest ever World Cup victory. The Three Lions have only lost once to a CONCACAF team in the World Cup (1-0 against the United States in 1950). Since then, they have three wins and three draws.
ENGLAND SUBSTITUTES: Declan Rice, John Stones, Trevoh Chalobah, Dean Henderson, Jordan Henderson, Dan Burn, Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Ivan Toney, James Trafford, Djed Spence.
ENGLAND (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford – Jarell Quansah, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly – Jude Bellingham, Elliot Anderson – Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers, Marcus Rashford – Harry Kane.
PANAMA’S SUBSTITUTES: Luis Mejía, César Blackman, Edgardo Fariña, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Ismael Díaz, César Samudio, Jiovany Ramos, Eric Davis, José Fajardo, Cecilio Waterman, Alberto Quintero, Aníbal Godoy, César Yanis, Azarías Londoño, Roderick Miller.
PANAMA (5–4–1): Orlando Mosquera – Amir Murillo, Fidel Escobar, José Córdoba, Andrés Andrade, Jorge Gutiérrez – Cristian Martínez, Carlos Harvey, Yoel Bárcenas, José Luis Rodríguez – Tomás Rodríguez.
Panama are already out of the World Cup after 1-0 defeats to Ghana and Croatia in their first two games – they have now lost all five of their ever World Cup matches. Prior to 2026, only three nations had lost their first six playoff matches: Mexico, El Salvador and Canada. This summer, Haiti and Iraq have also joined that list.
England go into the match in first place in Group L with four points – and have already secured advancement. Thomas Tuchel’s side opened with an entertaining 4-2 win over Croatia, before being held to a 0-0 draw with Ghana. England have lost just one of their last 14 World Cup group games – 1-0 against Belgium in 2018.
Welcome to our live stream of this World Cup match in Group L between Panama and England!
PRE-MATCH INSIGHTS
- Jordan Pickford is making his 15th World Cup appearance.
- England have won their last seven away games in a row.
- England have kept a clean sheet in their last five away games.
MATCH PREVIEW
Panama will face England in a World Cup group match at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Saturday, where England will try to secure a place in the last eight.
Panama lost their last game 1-0 to Croatia on June 23, and are winless in their last three games in all competitions. In nine games this year, they have two wins, three draws and four losses.
England drew 0-0 with Ghana in their last match on June 23 at the Boston Stadium, extending their unbeaten streak to four games. In 2026, they have won three, drawn two and lost one.
England lead the group with four points, while Panama’s zero points puts them in fourth place. England are heading for the last eight, while Panama are facing call-outs.
Elsewhere in the group, Ghana are in second place with four points, well positioned to advance. Croatia is still in the game with three points in third place.
The previous meeting between the sides ended 6-1 to England in the 2018 World Cup – Harry Kane scored a hat-trick, while John Stones scored two.
Panama has yet to score in this World Cup. Kane has been England’s biggest threat with two goals in the tournament so far.
Panama is in a scoring crisis and has gone 221 minutes without a goal in all competitions. Their last goal came against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a friendly match on June 6.
In their last six games in all competitions, Panama have won two, drawn one and lost three – with nine goals scored and 12 conceded. England have won three, drawn two and lost one – with nine goals scored and four conceded.
England are chasing the win they need to secure first place in Group L tonight. Optimism about the Three Lions’ chances of winning the trophy was somewhat weakened after the goalless draw against Ghana – in which they looked toothless until the very end. Panama is already out and about home over the weekend.
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