England will play their 2026 World Cup group games in Dallas, Boston and New York/New Jersey, with Thomas Tuchel’s side based in Kansas City during the tournament.
The schedule gives England three very different tests across Group L. They start with Croatia, then face Ghana, before finishing against Panama.
Travel will also be part of the challenge. England avoid a coast-to-coast group-stage route, but they still have one significant move between their first and second games.
Where are England based for World Cup 2026?
England will use Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri, as their base camp for the tournament.
That gives Thomas Tuchel’s squad a central hub between matches, rather than forcing them to fully reset after every game.
Kansas City also keeps England reasonably well placed for the start of their campaign. Their first game in Arlington, Texas, is around 460 miles from base.
Where will England play their group games?
England begin against Croatia on June 17 at Dallas Stadium, better known as AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas.
The venue has a listed capacity of 94,000, making it one of the biggest stadiums at the tournament. It also gives England their toughest group test first, against a Croatia side who have caused them plenty of tournament pain before.
Tuchel’s side then face Ghana on June 23 at Boston Stadium, usually known as Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
That is England’s longest group-stage move. Arlington to Foxborough is around 1,550 miles, while Kansas City to Foxborough is roughly 1,240 miles.
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England finish the group against Panama on June 27 at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.
That venue, usually known as MetLife Stadium, has a capacity of 82,500 and will also host the World Cup final on July 19.
The travel eases before that final group game. Foxborough to East Rutherford is only around 170 miles, so England should have a more straightforward turnaround after facing Ghana.
Where could England play in the Round of 32?
If England win Group L, they will play their Round of 32 tie in Atlanta on July 1.
Their opponent would be a third-placed team from Group E, H, I, J or K, depending on how the new 48-team format plays out.
Finishing second would change the route and send England into a Round of 32 match against the Group K runner-up.
The group looks manageable on paper, but the travel, heat and extra knockout round all matter. Tuchel needs England to start quickly, manage the middle leg well and avoid turning the Panama game into a pressure fixture.
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