
Croatia and Ghana meet in a high-stakes Group L finale at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With both sides needing a result, this is one of the most compelling matchups of the entire World Cup schedule. Here is everything you need to know, from kickoff time and predicted lineups to the best free streaming options available in your country.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Croatia vs Ghana |
| Tournament | FIFA World Cup 2026 โ Group L |
| Date | Saturday, June 27, 2026 |
| Venue | Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Kickoff | 5:00 p.m. ET | 10:00 p.m. BST | 11:00 p.m. CET |
Tournament Context: World Cup Group L
Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup features England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. It is one of the most fascinating groups of the tournament, with three of the four sides holding genuine ambitions of making the Round of 32. England entered as the group favourite, while Croatia and Ghana both arrived with the quality and tournament experience to cause problems for anyone.
By the time Croatia and Ghana face off in their final group match, both sides will have a clear picture of what they need. Croatia dropped points to England in their opener, while Ghana started strongly with a stoppage-time win over Panama. This final matchday fixture could be decisive for both nations’ World Cup futures.
Full World Cup Group L schedule:
- June 17: England 4-2 Croatia โ AT&T Stadium, Dallas (4:00 p.m. ET)
- June 17: Ghana 1-0 Panama โ BMO Field, Toronto (7:00 p.m. ET)
- June 23: England 0-0 Ghana โ Gillette Stadium, Boston (4:00 p.m. ET)
- June 23: Panama 0-1 Croatia โ BMO Field, Toronto (7:00 p.m. ET)
- June 27: Panama vs England โ MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (5:00 p.m. ET)
- June 27: Croatia vs Ghana โ Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia (5:00 p.m. ET)
The top two teams from each of the 12 World Cup groups advance to the Round of 32, with the eight best third-place finishers also progressing. Goal difference could prove decisive in a tightly matched section, so neither side can afford to settle for a draw if the numbers do not fall in their favour.
Croatia vs Ghana: Predicted Lineups
Croatia Predicted XI
Zlatko Dalic has been at the helm of the Croatian national team since 2017 and remains one of international football’s most respected tacticians. He guided Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and a third-place finish in Qatar in 2022, and will be determined to oversee another deep run here. His typical setup is a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, built around an elite, possession-controlling midfield.
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Dominik Livakovic | Fenerbahce |
| RB | Josip Stanisic | Bayer Leverkusen |
| CB | Dario Caleta-Car | Lyon |
| CB | Martin Vuskovic | Hamburg |
| LB | Josip Gvardiol | Manchester City |
| CM | Mateo Kovacic | Manchester City |
| CM | Luka Modric (c) | AC Milan |
| AM | Mario Pasalic | Atalanta |
| RW | Andrej Kramaric | Hoffenheim |
| LW | Ivan Perisic | Hajduk Split |
| ST | Ante Budimir | Osasuna |
Ghana Predicted XI
Ghana are guided by experienced coach Otto Addo, who has built a youthful, energetic squad around a core of Premier League-tested attackers. The Black Stars qualified for their fifth World Cup in six tournaments and carry genuine pace and directness going forward. Their defensive shape will be key against a Croatian midfield that likes to control the ball.
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Lawrence Ati-Zigi | St. Gallen |
| RB | Caleb Yirenkyi | Wolfsburg |
| CB | Alexander Djiku | Strasbourg |
| CB | Daniel Opoku | Huesca |
| LB | Gideon Mensah | Red Bull Salzburg |
| CM | Thomas Partey | Arsenal |
| CM | Salis Abdul Samed | Lens |
| RW | Antoine Semenyo | Manchester City |
| AM | Mohammed Kudus | West Ham |
| LW | Inaki Williams | Athletic Club |
| ST | Jordan Ayew | Leicester City |
Tactical Snapshot: What to Expect
Croatia will look to impose their usual rhythm through Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic, slowing the game down and probing for gaps. At 40, Modric remains the heartbeat of this side and can still dictate tempo against any opponent. Daliฤ’s side are seasoned at navigating knockout pressure situations, having beaten Argentina and Brazil in the two previous tournaments.
Ghana, on the other hand, will want to play at a higher tempo and use their wide attackers. Antoine Semenyo, fresh off a strong season in the Premier League, and Inaki Williams offer blistering pace on the flanks. Thomas Partey’s ability to win the ball and drive forward will be critical if Ghana are to disrupt Croatia’s midfield control. Expect a game that is tight in the middle but with genuine danger on the counterattack.
About the Venue: Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)
Philadelphia Stadium, known outside the World Cup as Lincoln Financial Field, is the home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles and one of the most recognisable sporting venues in the United States. Opened in 2003, it sits in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex alongside Interstate 95 and holds around 69,000 spectators for World Cup fixtures. The stadium’s distinctive design features wing-like canopies over the east and west stands and three open corners that offer sweeping views of the Philadelphia skyline. It already proved itself as a World Cup-ready venue by hosting 12 matches during the 2025 Club World Cup.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the stadium is temporarily renamed Philadelphia Stadium in line with FIFA’s policy on commercially sponsored venue names. It is hosting six matches in total, including five group-stage games and a Round of 16 fixture on July 4, which falls on the 250th anniversary of American independence. Fans travelling to the stadium can use the SEPTA Broad Street Line to NRG Station, and Philadelphia International Airport is just ten minutes away, making it one of the most accessible venues across all three World Cup host nations.
Where to Watch Croatia vs Ghana Live Stream
Croatia vs Ghana kicks off at 5:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Philadelphia Stadium. In the United Kingdom, the match is available free on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with coverage starting before the 10:00 p.m. BST kickoff. No subscription is required.
In the United States, the match airs on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo. Viewers with a TV antenna or access to the FOX network through a smart TV or cable can watch at no extra cost. The FOX One and FOX Sports apps also offer streaming for those without a cable subscription.
In Australia, every World Cup 2026 match, including Croatia vs Ghana, is free on SBS and SBS On Demand. In Croatia, the national broadcaster HRT holds all 104 matches and streams them free via HRTi. In Ghana and across much of sub-Saharan Africa, SuperSport on DStv holds broadcast rights, while some markets also have access via free-to-air options.
Here is how to watch online in five simple steps:
- Find your country’s official broadcaster using the table below
- Download the broadcaster’s app (BBC iPlayer, FOX One, SBS On Demand, HRTi, etc.)
- Create a free account if required, as most free-to-air apps only need an email address
- Navigate to the World Cup section and search for Croatia vs Ghana
- Log in 10 to 15 minutes before the 5:00 p.m. ET kickoff to avoid last-minute technical issues
All major broadcaster apps support iOS, Android, smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and desktop browsers.
Best Free Viewing Options: Quick Summary
| Region | Broadcaster | Free? | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | BBC One | ✅ Free | BBC iPlayer |
| USA | FOX (antenna/cable) | ✅ Free (with antenna) | FOX One / FOX Sports app |
| USA | Telemundo | ✅ Free (Spanish) | Peacock / Telemundo app |
| USA | FuboTV | 🆓 Free trial | fubo.tv |
| Australia | SBS | ✅ Free | SBS On Demand |
| Croatia | HRT | ✅ Free | HRTi app |
| Ireland | RTE | ✅ Free | RTE Player |
| Germany | ARD / ZDF | ✅ Free | ARD Mediathek / ZDFmediathek |
| France | TF1 / M6 | ✅ Free | TF1+ / 6play |
| Spain | RTVE | ✅ Free | RTVE Play |
| Brazil | TV Globo / CazรฉTV | ✅ Free | Globoplay / YouTube |
| Scandinavia | NRK / SVT / DR | ✅ Free | National broadcaster apps |
| Africa | SuperSport / beIN | 💳 Subscription | DStv / beIN CONNECT |
| Canada | TSN | 💳 Subscription | TSN+ / TSN.ca |
| MENA | beIN Sports | 💳 Subscription | beIN CONNECT app |
| India | Sports18 | 💳 Subscription | JioCinema |
| Global fallback | FIFA+ | Varies | plus.fifa.com |
Croatia vs Ghana is a match neither side can afford to get wrong. Croatia bring decades of major-tournament pedigree and a midfield that few teams in the world can match for quality. Ghana arrive with pace, energy, and a genuine belief that they can reach the knockout rounds. With both nations’ World Cup 2026 campaigns potentially on the line, this Group L finale at Philadelphia Stadium promises to be one of the most gripping matches of the group stage. Whether you are watching on BBC iPlayer in the UK, FOX in the USA, SBS On Demand in Australia, or HRTi in Croatia, make sure you are tuned in before the 5:00 p.m. ET kickoff on June 27.








