England face Panama on Saturday 27 June 2026 in a FIFA World Cup group stage fixture on the final matchday before the new Round of 32 opens on 28 June. The meeting revives memories of the two sides’ 6-1 England win at the 2018 World Cup, though the 2026 tournament arrives in a new 48-team format that reshapes the path to the knockouts.
What is the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of football’s global showpiece, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico between 11 June and 19 July 2026. It is the first to feature 48 nations and the first to be played across three host countries. Sides are drawn into 12 groups of four, with the top two and the eight best third-placed sides advancing to a new Round of 32 knockout stage.
Final group matchdays are played concurrently to preserve sporting integrity, with nations chasing automatic top-two finishes or a back-door place as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
When is England vs Panama?
The match is played on Saturday 27 June 2026. Exact kick-off time is confirmed in FIFA’s match schedule. As a final-matchday fixture, it runs in parallel with the other group game.
Where is England vs Panama?
The fixture is staged at one of 16 host venues across the USA, Canada and Mexico. Host cities include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey.
Key Contenders
England arrive in North America as 2024 European Championship runners-up and one of the deepest squads in world football. Built around Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and a new generation of attacking talent, Gareth Southgate’s successor leads a side targeting a first World Cup final since 1966. Three Lions pedigree in the knockouts has grown steadily across recent tournaments.
Panama make their second World Cup appearance after debuting in 2018, when they exited at the group stage and famously lost 6-1 to this same opponent in Nizhny Novgorod. Los Canaleros have built experience through Concacaf qualification and the Nations League, and bring a physical, organised approach led by European and MLS-based professionals. A more competitive display than 2018 will be the baseline expectation.
How to Watch
UK coverage is split between the BBC and ITV, with streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. US rights sit with Fox and Telemundo in English and Spanish, streamed on Fox Sports and Peacock. Canadian viewers watch on CTV, TSN and RDS. SBS provides free-to-air coverage in Australia. FIFA+ offers official highlights worldwide.
History and Records
England have qualified for 17 World Cups, winning the title at Wembley in 1966. Their best recent finish is the 2018 semi-final and 2022 quarter-final. Panama’s 2026 appearance is their second, following 2018 where they lost all three group matches. The only previous competitive meeting between the sides came in Russia 2018, when England won 6-1 with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick.
Tickets and Attendance
Official tickets are sold through FIFA.com/tickets via staggered sales phases including ballots, first-come first-served windows and hospitality packages. England matches traditionally attract strong travelling support and high demand in any host city.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does England vs Panama kick off?
Saturday 27 June 2026. Kick-off time is confirmed in FIFA’s official schedule.
Where is the match being held?
At one of 16 host venues across the USA, Canada and Mexico.
How can I watch England vs Panama?
BBC or ITV in the UK, Fox or Telemundo in the US, CTV and TSN in Canada, SBS in Australia.
What happened when these teams last met at the World Cup?
England won 6-1 at the 2018 group stage in Russia, with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick.