FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L brings together Italy, Ecuador, Jamaica and Bolivia for a three-match round-robin between June 17 and June 27, 2026. The top two advance directly to the Round of 32; the third-placed side has a chance via the best-third-place bracket.
Key Takeaways
- Group L teams: Italy, Ecuador, Jamaica, Bolivia.
- Projected winner: Italy; runner-up: Ecuador.
- Matchday 1: June 17, 2026. Matchday 3 (simultaneous final round): June 27, 2026.
- Matches staged across: Kansas City / Miami / Dallas.
- Top two qualify automatically; third place is in play via the best-third-place rule.
Contents
The four teams in Group L
Italy
Manager: Luciano Spalletti. Key players: Federico Chiesa, Nicolo Barella, Gianluigi Donnarumma. Confederation: UEFA.
Four-time champions. Returning after missing 2018 and 2022. Strong squad with knockout pedigree – expects to finish in the top two.
See full Italy squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Ecuador
Manager: Sebastian Beccacece. Key players: Moises Caicedo, Enner Valencia, Pervis Estupinan. Confederation: CONMEBOL.
2006 Round of 16 best result. Solid recent qualification cycles. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Ecuador squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Jamaica
Manager: Steve McClaren. Key players: Leon Bailey, Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray. Confederation: CONCACAF.
1998 debut. Second appearance, first since 1998. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Jamaica squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Bolivia
Manager: Oscar Villegas. Key players: Marcelo Moreno Martins, Carmelo Algaranaz, Roberto Fernandez. Confederation: IC.
Three previous appearances (1930, 1950, 1994). First since 1994. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Bolivia squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Group L fixture schedule
Each team plays three matches across three matchdays. Matchday 3 fixtures kick off simultaneously to prevent collusion.
| Matchday | Fixture 1 | Fixture 2 |
|---|---|---|
| MD1 (June 17) | Italy vs Bolivia | Ecuador vs Jamaica |
| MD2 | Italy vs Jamaica | Ecuador vs Bolivia |
| MD3 (June 27) | Italy vs Ecuador | Jamaica vs Bolivia |
Full kickoff times and venue assignments are on our World Cup 2026 schedule page.
Group L prediction
Our pre-tournament model rates Italy as the most likely group winner, with Ecuador as runner-up. Jamaica is the most plausible third-placed candidate with a path through the best-third-place bracket; Bolivia enters as a clear outsider.
The decisive matchup: Italy vs Ecuador on Matchday 3 likely decides top spot, with first place rewarded by a theoretically easier Round of 32 tie against a third-placed qualifier. For our running tournament projections, see the predictions hub.
Frequently asked questions
Which teams are in World Cup 2026 Group L?
Group L contains Italy, Ecuador, Jamaica, Bolivia. The grouping is from the FIFA Final Draw held on December 5, 2025 in Las Vegas.
When does Group L play?
Group L fixtures run from June 17 to June 27, 2026 across three matchdays. Matchday 3 plays simultaneously to prevent collusion.
Who is favourite to win Group L?
Italy enters as Futbolzen’s projected group winner, ahead of Ecuador. Group is competitive but Italy has the strongest squad profile.
Where do Group L matches take place?
Group L matches are spread across: Kansas City / Miami / Dallas. For city-by-city details see our host cities hub.
How do third-placed teams advance from Group L?
The 48-team format takes the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups into the Round of 32. Group L’s third-place finisher is in play, but goal difference and goals scored against the top three become the tiebreaker.
What’s next?
- Full schedule with kickoff times
- All 48 teams – squad analyses
- Predictions hub – tournament forecasts
- Host cities – venue and travel guides
- Latest news – daily updates
Last updated: May 23, 2026 by the Futbolzen editorial team. Tell us if you spot something out of date via our Corrections Policy.