Who will England play next at World Cup? Potential last-32 opponents and route to final revealed
Who will England play next at World Cup? Potential last-32 opponents and route to final revealed
Kieran JacksonSat, June 27, 2026 at 10:58 PM UTC
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England will next face Senegal or DR Congo in the last-32 of the 2026 World Cup after securing top spot in Group L.
After a first half of frustration against Panama in New Jersey, second-half goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane secured England’s second win of the tournament with a 2-0 victory.
It means Thomas Tuchel’s side will move on to Atlanta for their next match, as their route to the final became clear on Saturday night.
See below for details of England’s knockout route.
When will England play next?
After topping Group L, England will face a best-ranked third-place team on Wednesday, 1 July at 5pm (BST) in Atlanta.
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Who will England face in the round of 32?
England’s win, alongside Croatia beating Ghana, confirmed top spot in Group L.
They will face the third-place team from one of Group I/J/K in the round of 32. As things stand, these are the teams that could be in the mix to face the Three Lions:
Group I: Senegal
Group J: Algeria, Austria
Group K: DR Congo
It is currently Senegal, but a win for DR Congo against Uzbekistan on Saturday night would see them play the Group L winners. Algeria and Austria face each other in their final Group J showdown.
What is England’s route to the final?
In the last-16, England could face Group A winners Mexico (or Ecuador) in the high-altitude cauldron of the Estadio Azteca on the evening of Sunday 5 July at 1am (BST).
If they overcame that serious test of resolve, Group C winners Brazil could be their quarter-final opponent on Saturday, 11 July.
Argentina, following a fine start with Lionel Messi’s five goals, may then be their potential semi-final opposition. France would be the likely opponents in the final in New Jersey on Sunday, 19 July.
Source: “AOL Sports”
