Every England route to World Cup final as Argentina and co-hosts lie in wait

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Evening Standard

·24 June 2026

Every England route to World Cup final as Argentina and co-hosts lie in wait

England’s performance in final group stage game will dictate path to World Cup glory

England are on course to avoid being drawn on the more difficult side of the World Cup 2026 knockout stage bracket, with progression almost secured.

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The Three Lions have already faced Croatia and Ghana this summer, taking four points from a possible six and take on Panama in their final Group L fixture this weekend knowing victory should confirm top spot and a kind first knockout game.

Standard Sport has analysed the World Cup fixture bracket to assess how Thomas Tuchel’s side could reach the final as either the winners, runners-up or third-placed team in Group L.

It’s also worth noting that due to FIFA’s seeding of the tournament, England cannot meet holders Argentina until the semi-finals or Spain or France until the final, if all four countries finish top of their respective groups.

Top spot in Group L is in within reach for England

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Should England win Group L - they will meet the team who finishes third in one of Groups E, H, I, J or K for a round of 32 clash in Atlanta, Georgia on July 1.

As things currently stand, that team is tournament debutants Cape Verde - who have held Spain and Uruguay to draws - in a fixture Tuchel’s side would be expected to win.

A co-host nation or a bitter rivals may well lie in await in the last-16 stage as Mexico could face Scotland in the last-32, and it could only get tougher from there with potential ties against Brazil and Argentina in the quarter and semi-finals respectively.

Should England successfully run the gauntlet and make it to just a second-ever World Cup final, it could be that France stand in their way of ending 60 years of pain.

England’s potential route to World Cup final as Group L winners:

Last-32: Cape Verde

Last-16: Mexico

Quarter-finals: Brazil

Final: France

History: Cape Verde are on course to qualify for the knockout stages in their World Cup debut

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If England finish second in Group L, they would move into the other half of the knockout bracket and take on the Group K runners-up in Toronto. That team is currently Portugal, but could be Colombia depending on the outcome of the final group game between the two nations.

Win that encounter in Canada, and England could be handed a last-16 showdown against Spain in Dallas.

Gain revenge for the 2024 Euros final defeat would see the Three Lions move on to a potential quarter-final clash against co-hosts USA and then possibly a semi-final date with France.

If England manage to knock off two former winners en route to reaching the 2026 World Cup final, reigning world champions Argentina are probably the likeliest team to be standing between them and glory.

England’s potential route to World Cup final as Group L runners-up:

Last-32: Portugal

Last-16: Spain

Quarter-finals: USA

Semi-finals: France

Final: Argentina

Lionel Messi is bidding to lead Argentina to successive World Cup title triumphs

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The best eight third-placed teams will join the 12 group winners and 12 group runners-up in the last 32, but this won’t be officially confirmed until the group stage has concluded.

Such an outcome for Tuchel and would set up a showdown in Kansas City on July 3 with the winners of Group K between Colombia and Portugal, with the former requiring a point to confirm top spot.

If England are able to navigate the first knockout round, a last-16 showdown against co-hosts Canada could be followed by a quarter-final meeting with holders Argentina.

The potential route to World Cup glory does not get any easier from there as five-time winners Brazil might be the semi-final opponents before Spain provide the last hurdle to overcome in New York City.