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Group L Fixtures

Ghana face England and Croatia — two European heavyweights — alongside Panama in Group L. The opener against Panama on 17 June is the key match. Carlos Queiroz’s side need a win there to give themselves a realistic shot at qualification.

All times Eastern (ET). The top two from each group qualify directly for the Round of 32; the best eight third-placed teams also progress under the expanded 48-team format.

Manager: Carlos Queiroz

Ghana sacked Otto Addo in March 2026 following a poor run of friendlies and appointed Carlos Queiroz — a tournament specialist who previously managed Portugal, Iran and Egypt — specifically to lead the World Cup campaign. His approach is rooted in defensive discipline: a compact 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 sitting in a mid/low block, then breaking quickly through wide players.

Against Panama, expect Queiroz to push the line higher and lean on crosses into Semenyo and Williams. Against England and Croatia, a deep, organised block with quick counters through Kamaldeen, Fatawu and Nuamah is more likely. Notably, Mohammed Kudus was ruled out injured before the squad was confirmed, which shifts Ghana’s attack onto different shoulders.

Key Players to Watch

Thomas Partey (Villarreal) — The veteran midfielder is Ghana’s reference point in build-up and defensive transitions. His screening and long-range passing are vital if the Black Stars sit deep and break quickly. Partey provides the experience and calmness that Queiroz’s counter-attacking system requires.

Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) — Expected to lead or support the line, Semenyo is physical, excellent at attacking crosses and running in behind. Multiple tactical previews highlight him as central to Ghana’s group-stage gameplan.

Iñaki Williams (Athletic Club) — A high-volume runner who carries the threat on the counter. Williams brings top-level experience from the 2022 World Cup and was in outstanding form at club level. He is Ghana’s primary pace threat in behind defences.

Jordan Ayew (Leicester City) — The captain. Brings big-tournament experience, foul-winning ability and is Ghana’s penalty option. A reliable choice off the bench or from the right flank in big moments.

Wingers to watch: Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon) and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City) give Ghana dangerous direct options on the break — all three can beat a man one-on-one and generate chances.

Full 26-Man Squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

World Cup History

Ghana make their fifth World Cup appearance in 2026, having previously featured in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022. Their best result remains the quarter-finals in 2010 in South Africa — a run remembered most for Asamoah Gyan’s heartbreaking missed penalty against Uruguay that would have put Africa in a World Cup semi-final for the first time. That quarter-final is still the joint-best performance by an African nation at a men’s World Cup.

Ghana reached the last 16 on their debut in 2006 under Ratomir Dujkovic, but went out in the group stages in both 2014 and 2022. They qualified for 2026 by topping CAF Group I, finishing with eight wins and one defeat across ten games — a strong qualifying campaign under Otto Addo before his departure.

Form and Betting Odds

Ghana’s form heading into the tournament tells two stories. In CAF World Cup qualifying, they were dominant — finishing first in their group with just six goals conceded and seven clean sheets in ten games. Big wins over Chad (5-0) and Madagascar (3-0) showed their quality at the CAF level. However, a difficult run of friendlies under new coach Queiroz — including a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in May 2026 — raises questions about their cohesion under the new manager.

Betting markets have England as Group L favourites at around 2/5, Croatia at 4/1, and Ghana at roughly 11/1 to win the group. For outright qualification, books price Ghana as a slight underdog but realistic third choice — ahead of Panama but behind the two European sides. Under the expanded format, the best eight third-placed teams also progress, which keeps Ghana’s chances alive even if they don’t take second.

The key betting angle: beat Panama in the opener and Ghana become very live for second place or a strong third-place ranking. Fail to beat Panama and the path becomes significantly harder against England and Croatia.

For full betting tips on Ghana’s group stage matches, see our World Cup 2026 Betting Tips page and check out the best betting sites in Nigeria for the latest odds.