The 2026 FIFA World Cup has commenced, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is already stirring the pot with his candid analysis. Making his debut as a studio analyst on FOX Sports, Ibrahimovic, renowned as one of the best strikers in football history, shared his thoughts on the group stages. When asked which group he found intriguing, he emphatically pointed to Group L.

“We have England. Is it coming home? We’ll see. We have Croatia. I have some roots from Croatia as well, so I’m supporting them in this tournament. We have Ghana. Big talent, let’s see what they bring. We have Panama. Unfortunately, in this group, I think they will be the punching bag,” Ibrahimovic said.

He further elaborated, suggesting that England and Croatia would likely vie for the top position in the group, while Ghana had the potential to unsettle them by taking points. Panama, however, didn’t seem to pose much of a threat in his view.

“England and Croatia will fight for the top spot, and Ghana might disturb them and take some points. But I don’t see Panama,” he added.

Group L consists of England, the 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia, contenders from Africa, Ghana, and the CONCACAF representatives, Panama. According to FIFA’s world rankings, England is positioned at No. 4, Croatia at No. 11, and Panama at No. 34. Ghana follows behind at No. 73.

The match scheduled to kick off the group stage will see Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions compete against Croatia on June 17 in Arlington, Texas. This game serves as a rematch of the 2018 semifinal, where Croatia emerged victorious in extra time. Ibrahimovic sees this match as pivotal for determining the group’s outcome. Ghana, despite losing 5-1 to Austria in March and 2-0 to Mexico in May, might still impact the group’s dynamics. However, Ibrahimovic doubts Panama’s ability to offer a credible challenge, pointing to Panama’s lopsided 6-2 loss to Brazil in May and a narrow 4-2 win over the Dominican Republic on June 3. Dominican Republic ranks significantly lower at No. 144 in FIFA’s standings.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic retired in 2023, having scored over 560 career goals, the 15th highest tally in history. He claimed 34 major trophies and played for elite clubs such as Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, PSG, and Manchester United. As Sweden’s all-time top scorer with 62 career goals, Ibrahimovic now channels his inimitable energy and insight into his new role with FOX Sports.