England are on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and face Panama in their final group game early Sunday morning in New Jersey.
Panama have already been eliminated from the tournament following similar 1-0 defeats to Ghana and Croatia. They are rooted to the bottom of Group L without a point.
The Three Lions on the other hand are atop the standings with four points, needing a win to guarantee they will finish as group leaders. They are coming off a frustrating barren draw against Ghana in their last game.
England are only ahead of Ghana on goal difference, with the Black Stars taking on third place Croatia in their final Group match.
Thomas Tuchel has faced plenty of criticism with his squad choice and we can expect some changes to the side in their final game. England have not won the World Cup since their solitary victory in 1966.
Despite defending admirably throughout the tournament, Panama have failed to convert any chances and will at least look to score a goal that would soften their elimination blow.
These two sides have met once in their history during the 2018 World Cup and England ran riot in a 6-1 triumph. Captain Harry Kane famously scored a hat-trick in that match and will be keen to replicate his heroics here.
Will England finish on a high and get their second Group stage win here to make it into the round of 32, or can Panama leave the tournament on a high by getting something from this game?
Here is our detailed predicted outcome of the game.
What time does Panama vs England start?
The match kicks off at 12AM E.A.T at the MetLife Stadium
Panama vs England team news
Head coach Thomas Christensen is expected to field a strong side despite elimination, as Panama seek to get anything out of this game.
Captain Anibal Godoy will retain his spot in the starting XI, with his experience being one of Panama’s few advantages.
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Michael Murillo will continue his exploits on the right flank, with the creativity of Adalberto Carrasquilla set to inspire the Panama attack.
The Three Lions are expected to make some changes to the side that started in the draw against Ghana, with Noni Madueke the main culprit set to lose his place in the starting XI.
In his absence, we can expect winger Bukayo Saka to come into the lineup. His Arsenal teammate Declan Rice is being assessed after a minor calf strain and for caution sake he may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Manchester City target Elliot Anderson is expected to maintain his place in the midfield, while Marcus Rashford may get his first start as Antony Gordon is relegated to the bench.
Kane and Jude Bellingham have been the spark for the English this far and they will both retain their spots in the starting XI.
Panama vs England head-to-head and current form
Panama have only won one of their last five matches – a 4-2 pre-tournament friendly win against Dominican Republic. They bring a two-game losing streak into this match, conceding twice with no reply.
England’s three-match winning streak was halted by a brave Ghana in their last outing, but they remain with just one defeat in their recent run of five games.
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Current form:
Panama – LLDWL
England – DWWWL
Panama vs England previous games
- England 6-1 Panama (June 24, 2018)
Panama vs England prediction
Panama are expected to frustrate England with their defensive nature, though they may not be able to withstand the pressure for the entire game. This may force them to throw some attacking options into the match, as they have nothing to lose.
England will definitely hold a high line and apply plenty of pressure in search of a win that will see them top the Group.
Prediction – England to win + Over 1.5 goals – CLICK HERE TO PLACE YOUR BET ON THIS GAME!