Portugal vs Uzbekistan, England vs Ghana & Panama vs Croatia: Predicted Lineups, H2H Records and Match Predictions | FIFA World Cup 2026
Portugal vs Uzbekistan in Group K
England vs Ghana
Panama vs Croatia, both in Group L
Portugal vs Uzbekistan | Group K
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. BST / 10:30 p.m. IST
Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Portugal arrive under pressure after a shocking 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opener, despite João Neves putting them ahead early. Roberto Martínez's side generated just one shot on target and are now in a must-win situation. Making their World Cup debut, Uzbekistan fell 3-1 to Colombia but impressed with their determination, as Abbosbek Fayzullaev netted the nation's first-ever World Cup goal.
Portugal Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)
Diogo Costa (GK)
Diogo Dalot (RB)
Rúben Dias (CB)
Gonçalo Inácio (CB)
Nuno Mendes (LB)
Vitinha (CM)
João Neves (CM)
Bruno Fernandes (CAM)
Francisco Conceicao (RW)
Cristiano Ronaldo (ST)
Rafael Leão (LW)
Ruben Dias returns after missing the opener, while Conceicao is expected to earn his first start of the tournament.
Uzbekistan Predicted Starting XI (3-4-3)
Utkir Yusupov (GK)
Abdukodir Khusanov (CB)
Khojiakbar Alijonov (CB)
Rustam Ashurmatov (CB)
Bekhruz Karimov (RWB)
Akmal Mozgovoy (CM)
Otabek Shukurov (CM)
Jakhongir Nasrullaev (LWB)
Abbosbek Fayzullaev (RW)
Eldor Shomurodov (ST)
Odiljon Hamrobekov (LW)
Head-to-Head
Portugal and Uzbekistan have never met before. This is Uzbekistan's first-ever World Cup, making every game they play in 2026 a historic first for the Central Asian nation.
Prediction
Portugal's xG of 0.65 against DR Congo was alarming, but Uzbekistan's leaky defence conceded three to Colombia. Although Portugal carries the best midfielders in the world, they lack understanding and on-field chemistry in the previous match.
Prediction: Portugal 1-1 Uzbekistan.
England vs Ghana | Group L
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 p.m. BST / 1:30 a.m. IST (June 24)
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
England were sensational in a 4-2 win over Croatia in their opener, with Harry Kane bagging a brace alongside goals from Bellingham and Rashford. Thomas Tuchel's attack looks frightening. Ghana, meanwhile, edged Panama 1-0 through a 95th-minute Caleb Yirenkyi goal, a narrow but important win. Both teams arrive on three points, with the winner taking commanding control of Group L.
England Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Jordan Pickford (GK)
Reece James (RB)
John Stones (CB)
Marc Guéhi (CB)
Nico O'Reilly (LB)
Declan Rice (CDM)
Kobbie Mainoo (CDM)
Noni Madueke (RW)
Jude Bellingham (CAM)
Anthony Gordon (LW)
Harry Kane (ST)
With Bukayo Saka sidelined by an Achilles problem, Madueke is set to retain his spot, while Guéhi may come in for Konsa following England's defensive struggles against Croatia.
Ghana Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Lawrence Ati-Zigi (GK)
Andy Yiadom (RB)
Alexander Opoku (CB)
Tariq Lamptey (CB)
Gideon Mensah (LB)
Thomas Partey (CDM)
Caleb Yirenkyi (CDM)
Antoine Semenyo (RW)
Jordan Ayew (CAM)
Kamaldeen Sulemana (LW)
Brandon Thomas-Asante (ST)
Thomas Partey makes his first World Cup start after being denied entry to Canada for the opener. His experience and physicality in midfield give Ghana a genuine defensive anchor against Bellingham and Rice.
Head-to-Head
England and Ghana have met just once, a 1-1 friendly draw in March 2011. This is their first-ever competitive World Cup meeting.
Prediction
England's firepower is a level above Ghana's, and coming off a four-goal opener with Bellingham in commanding form, the Three Lions should control this comfortably. While Ghana can pose a threat on the counter through the pace of Semenyo, England's overall strength and depth should be enough to see them through comfortably.
Prediction: England 3-0 Ghana.
Panama vs Croatia | Group L
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 a.m. BST (June 24) / 4:30 a.m. IST (June 24)
Venue: BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
Both teams arrive with zero points and a near-elimination scenario. Croatia were beaten 4-2 by England, a result that exposed serious defensive frailties, particularly in the second half, as Luka Modrić, 40, visibly tired. Panama lost a heartbreaking 1-0 contest to Ghana, conceding in the 95th minute despite dominating possession (62%) and limiting their opponents to just one shot on target. The loser here is effectively eliminated.
Panama Predicted Starting XI (3-4-3)
Orlando Mosquera (GK)
César Blackman (RWB)
José Córdoba (CB)
Jiovany Ramos (CB)
Andrés Andrade (CB)
Yoel Bárcenas (CM)
Carlos Harvey (CM)
Amir Murillo (LWB)
José Luis Rodríguez (RW)
Cecilio Waterman (ST)
Cristian Martínez (LW)
Croatia Predicted Starting XI (4-3-3)
Dominik Livaković (GK)
Josip Šutalo (RB)
Luka Vušković (CB)
Josko Gvardiol (CB)
Josip Stanisic (LB)
Mateo Kovacic (CM)
Luka Modrić (CM)
Mario Pasalic (CM)
Martin Baturina (RW)
Petar Sucic (CAM)
Petar Musa (ST)
Gvardiol is expected to be far more disciplined than against England, with Dalic demanding a more compact shape. Modric, despite his age, must start; Croatia simply do not have his creative quality elsewhere.
Head-to-Head
Panama and Croatia have never met before in any senior international fixture; this is the first-ever meeting between the two nations.
Prediction
Croatia carry far greater World Cup pedigree (finalists in 2018, third in 2022) and the superior individual quality across every position to match. Panama's resilience is real, but their inability to score at this tournament is a major concern. Modrić and Kovačić should control midfield and create enough for a narrow Croatian win.
Prediction: Croatia 2-0 Panama.
