Group L begins with a clash between England and Croatia in Texas, where the section winner is likely to be decided.
Back-to-back European Championship runners-up England are strong favourites to top the ground and it is easy to see why, having made the World Cup by winning their eight qualifying games to nil.
Thomas Tuchel got off to a tricky start with the Three Lions but has since found a formula which has made them one of the favourites for outright glory in North America.
Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are just three of the many brilliant names in a star-studded squad and when also considering Tuchel’s reputation in knockout competitions, it would be a major shock if they were to drop any points in the group stage.
That said, the one side in the section capable of pulling off such a shock is Croatia, who have enjoyed second and third place finishes at the past two World Cups.
Evergreen Luka Modric is still around to captain the nation which beat England in semi-finals eight years ago and the presence of Josko Gvardiol in a strong defence means there is enough sturdiness to limit the Three Lions’ spate of attacking stars.
Whether Modric and his teammates still have the legs to make a deep run is up for debate but Zlatko Dalic’s side look a much better outfit than the remaining two teams in this section and should make the last 32 with little fuss.
Ghana could be a popular pick as dark horses for those reminiscing their Asamoah Gyan-led run to the quarter-finals in 2010 but they finished bottom of their section in 2022 and another disappointing showing may be on the cards.
Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus are undoubtedly excellent players but Otto Addo’s side are too reliant on that pair to produce magic in big moments and the Black Stars lack the same level of quality in defence.
The expanded format of the 2026 World Cup means they could qualify for the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-placed teams but, given the pluckiness of the final Group L side, there is a decent chance Ghana fail to even win a game this summer.
Panama are expected to finish bottom of this section - England fans will be likely particularly dismissive after the 6-2 drubbing the Three Lions gave the Canal Men in 2018 - but they have shown more than enough in recent years to suggest they can ruffle some feathers.
Thomas Christiansen’s side were runners-up at the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup and in each of their past two Nations League campaigns. They have won their last three competitive games against a strong USA side, too, so they clearly know how to get up for big games.
England’s star should carry them to top spot and Croatia will follow closely behind. Things get more interesting in the lower echelons, though, as Panama’s defensive solidity and ability to frustrate big teams could see them achieve a better goal difference than Ghana, damning the Black Stars to a disappointing bottom spot.