2026 FIFA World Cup Group L
Italy return after two missed World Cups. Croatia bring 2018 finalist DNA. Haaland makes his long-awaited World Cup debut for Norway.
Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Group L brings together 4 sides from UEFA, CONCACAF: Italy (FIFA #10), Croatia (FIFA #12), Honduras (FIFA #76), Norway (FIFA #32). The average FIFA Ranking in the group is #33, with Italy the highest-ranked side and Honduras the lowest. Between them, the four teams have 34 previous World Cup appearances and include 1 former champion (Italy).
Group play opens on Thursday, June 18 with Italy vs Croatia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and concludes on Sunday, June 28 with Italy vs Norway. All six group fixtures are played in a round-robin format — each team faces the other three exactly once.
Group L simulator
Predict all six group fixtures and see who advances. Pure client-side - no data leaves your browser.
Predict scores
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Croatia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Honduras | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Italy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Norway | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top 2 (highlighted) qualify for the Round of 32. Pure client-side simulation — your picks aren't saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which teams are in Group L at the 2026 World Cup?
Group L features Italy (FIFA #10, UEFA), Croatia (FIFA #12, UEFA), Honduras (FIFA #76, CONCACAF), Norway (FIFA #32, UEFA).
Who is the favourite in Group L?
Italy are the highest-ranked side in Group L at FIFA #10 and are statistically the favourite to win the group. The average opponent ranking around them is #40.
How are Group L ties broken at the World Cup?
FIFA tiebreakers in order: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) head-to-head points, 5) head-to-head goal difference, 6) head-to-head goals scored, 7) fair play points (cards), 8) drawing of lots. Goal difference is the most common deciding factor in practice.
How many teams advance from Group L?
The top 2 teams from Group L qualify directly for the Round of 32. The third-placed team may also advance if it is one of the eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups. In effect, finishing third with 4+ points usually progresses.
When does Group L start at the 2026 World Cup?
Group play opens on Thursday, June 18 with Italy vs Croatia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and concludes on Sunday, June 28 with Italy vs Norway. All six group fixtures are played in a round-robin format — each team faces the other three exactly once.
What is the format of the World Cup 2026 group stage?
Round-robin: each of the four teams plays the other three exactly once. Three points for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss. Group games cannot be drawn for tournament purposes only by additional rules — draws are recorded as draws. No extra time or penalties at this stage.
Can I get live Group L standings via API?
Yes. Use TheStatsAPI standings endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by group=L to get live standings (points, GD, GF, GA), match-by-match form, and qualification probabilities.
Where are Group L matches played?
Group L fixtures are spread across multiple host cities in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The full venue assignment for every match in the group is listed on this page.
Get live Group L data via API
Standings, fixtures, results, lineups, xG, and odds - all in one REST API.