England’s Group L probably sits somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of difficulty.

At 33rd and 74th, respectively, the Three Lions will see Panama and Ghana as winnable matches, but the addition of Croatia means Group L is one of only two groups in the entire tournament that includes more than one team from the top 11 of the FIFA rankings.

So, should Thomas Tuchel’s men win their opener against Luka Modric and co, England will feel good about topping the group. Should they let anything slip, the path to the final gets considerably more complicated.

Here is how both scenarios could play out.

If England Win Group L

Topping the group sends England into a round of 32 tie against a third-placed finisher from Group E, H, I, J or K. The most likely opponents from that pool include the Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Uruguay, Senegal, Norway or Colombia.

England would then face the winners of Group A, most likely Mexico, on home soil at the Estadio Azteca. It’s a fixture England has dominated over the years. Their only competitive meeting was a 2-0 England win in the group stage of the ‘66 World Cup, but England have come out on top in five of the eight friendlies the nations have staged.

If England get past Mexico, it ramps up considerably. Brazil could lie in wait in the quarter-finals. They’re expected to top Group C and navigate their way through the early knockout rounds with relative ease, unless Morocco, the dark horses of the tournament pull off a surprise.

Should England make the last four, Argentina or Portugal would likely be waiting, and what a quarter-final that would be in itself. England would meet either Messi or Ronaldo should they make it past the Selecao, with both players knowing that this is likely their last tournament.

The last time England beat either side in a major tournament knockout stage was on their way to winning the World Cup in 1966, where they beat Argentina in the quarter-finals, and then Portugal in the semis.

Spain look the most probable opponents in the final. They’re on the opposite side of the draw from England, and would likely face France in the semis, who, in reality, have every chance of being there as well. Spain beat England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin, so the opportunity for revenge on the grandest stage possible wouldn’t be lost on anyone.

If England Finish Second in Group L

Finishing second flips England onto the other side of the bracket entirely, and the path immediately becomes tougher. Their round of 32 opponents would be the runners-up from Group K, most likely Colombia, who sit in a group alongside Portugal, DR Congo and Uzbekistan.

Win there, and Spain await in Dallas. The European champions are expected to top Group H and come through the next round comfortably, meaning the Euro 2024 final rematch might not require both sides to make it to the final.

Beating Spain to reach a quarter-final would be a monumental achievement in itself. Belgium are the most likely opponents at that stage, as potential Group G winners, arguably the easiest of the tournament. Though the USA, as co-hosts, can’t be ruled out either.

France have a tough route through the draw on this side of the bracket, with clashes against Germany and the Netherlands likely, but if anyone has the squad to navigate that gauntlet, it’s them. England would come face-to-face with the nation that eliminated them from the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

Argentina could be England’s opponents in the final on this route. The holders may face Portugal in the quarters and navigate a tough semi-final, but Messi’s side are chasing back-to-back World Cup titles for the first time in almost a century. After two doses of heartbreak in finals at the last two Euros, England would then have to get past the GOAT to avoid a third and lift the World Cup.

Three years on from one of the most drawn-out takeover sagas, the question over Manchester United’s ownership has resurfaced and inevitably, so has the name of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Qatari businessman came closer than anyone to purchasing 100% of the club from the Glazer family back in 2023, and with fresh reports of certain Glazer siblings now pushing for a sale, speculation about a renewed approach from his camp was always going to follow.

But will he actually come back?

How Close was Sheikh Jassim to Buying Manchester United?

When the Glazers opened up the bidding process in late 2022, Sheikh Jassim quickly emerged as the most ambitious suitor. His Nine Two Foundation tabled multiple offers, eventually understood to be in the region of £5 billion, promising to clear the club’s debt entirely and invest heavily in the stadium, training ground and squad. It was exactly what United fans had been crying out for.

But it wasn’t enough. The Glazers ultimately favoured Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposal for a partial stake, with the INEOS billionaire completing a deal worth around £1.25 billion for just under 30% of the club. A source close to the Qatari group later said they felt the goalposts had “continually changed” throughout the process and that they had been left feeling used.

Ratcliffe’s time in charge has done little to ease the frustration of the United fanbase. Mass redundancies, repeated managerial changes, and even a reduction in staff Christmas bonuses have kept the club in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Will Sheikh Jassim Make Another Bid for Man Utd?

So, with the Glazers now reportedly entertaining the idea of a full sale again, has Sheikh Jassim reconsidered?

According to the Mail Online, the answer is a firm no, at least for now. A fresh bid is described as “highly unlikely,” with those close to the group said to be “scarred” by the way the 2023 process played out.

Crucially, Sheikh Jassim’s consortium hasn’t even been approached to gauge their interest, which in itself says something about where things stand between the two parties. The ambition was never in question; his 2023 statement set out a sweeping vision to make United “the greatest football club in the world.”

But ambition and appetite are two different things, and right now, the appetite is nowhere to be seen.

United dreamed of what his involvement might have looked like, so this will feel like a disappointing update. But you never know when things might re-ignite. Newcastle’s takeover by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) was dead in the water, but a year later, the deal was back on the table, and they became the richest team in the world overnight.

Danny Dyer hasn’t minced his words when discussing Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave his son-in-law Jarrod Bowen out of his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The English actor is a well-known West Ham United fan, and was left gutted when the Hammers suffered relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2025-26 season. His misery was further compounded by Bowen’s omission from the Three Lions’ squad.

The West Ham forward married Dyer’s eldest daughter in 2025, while the couple also share two children together. He’s been the main man at the east London club since he joined in 2020. It’s been a tough couple of weeks, and now his father-in-law has lifted the lid on Bowen’s emotions.

Danny Dyer Slams ‘Ridiculous’ England Decision

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show before taking part in Soccer Aid last weekend, Dyer left nothing to the imagination when expressing his anger at Tuchel leaving Bowen out.

“It’s a double-whammy for him, he had a terrible weekend. It’s awful, he didn’t get called, which is a JOKE, by the way,” the 48-year-old said.

He even went on to call his omission ‘ridiculous’, adding: “I might be slightly biased. We were half booking flights. That’s how confident we were and then it turns out he got the call. It’s a tough weekend for the kid but he’s got a big heart and he should be on that plane. I think it’s ridiculous.”

Dyer doesn’t hold much hope in his country at the upcoming tournament in the States, Canada and Mexico. “Without Jarrod, they’re going to be pony. I don’t think we’ll beat Croatia in the first game,” he claimed.

It’s clear he isn’t the biggest Tuchel fan, either, as he pointed out that the best teams the German has faced to date have got the better of England: “Anyone decent we’ve played, we lost. We lost to Senegal and Japan. As soon as we’ve had a test, he’s failed.”

Rather brutally, Dyer made a point of naming Arsenal’s Noni Madueke as the player that should’ve been left at home so that Bowen could claim a place on the plane. He told Rooney and his co-hosts:

How Jarrod Bowen Feels About Leaving West Ham

Bowen is now being linked with a move away from West Ham, with many wondering how Dyer would feel about him exiting the club. The Football Factory actor did reveal just how hard the relegation has been on Bowen, saying: “He’s devastated about it. I can’t tell you how much he takes it to heart.”

While he’s previously named the only two clubs he’d ‘suffer’ seeing the 29-year-old join, Dyer has claimed to have no knowledge of any potential move. Confirming that Bowen would like to stay put in the capital, he continued: “He wants to stay because he loves the club. I’ve got no answers about that at all.