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“We haven’t won anything yet” — Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz

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“We haven’t won anything yet” — Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz

Carlos Queiroz has urged calm after securing a priceless goalless draw with England, insisting that the Black Stars’ work is far from finished despite the valuable result.


Ghana moved to four points in Group L after the historic draw with the Three Lions at Gillette Stadium. However, Queiroz believes celebrations must be curtailed.


“We have not won anything yet,” Queiroz said post-match. “We’re just on our way to reaching the main goal, which is to qualify for the second round of the World Cup.”


The coach dedicated Tuesday’s extraordinary output to the supporters back home. “We have to dedicate this effort to the fans of Ghana,” he said. “They deserve it. The players gave everything.”


“Points in this World Cup are terribly expensive,” Queiroz added. “When you get one, you have to fight for it. Now we recover and focus on Croatia.”


Ghana face Croatia on 28 June in their final group game. A win would guarantee their ticket to the Round of 16.

​Benjamin Asare earns praise from Carlos Queiroz after heroics against England

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​Benjamin Asare earns praise from Carlos Queiroz after heroics against England

Black Stars Head Coach Carlos Queiroz has heaped praise on goalkeeper Benjamin Asare for his impeccable performance against England on Tuesday evening.


Asare, who replaced the injured Ati-Zigi, proved pivotal for the Ghana team, helping the side secure an all-important stalemate at the Gillette Stadium in the United States.


Queiroz, who dislikes praising individuals, insisted Asare deserved the plaudits after a composed display that included a first-half save from Harry Kane and a late strike from Bukayo Saka.


“Usually, I don’t like to talk. Never, never. I avoid talking about individual players,” Queiroz said. “But I think he deserves applauds. He was brilliant because he’s in a specific position in the team and this is only due to the quality of the player, first of all, and the work that we did with all of them.”
Queiroz also indicated that the clean sheet belonged to the entire group.


“I know and I learned in this business that we can win a couple of games with 11 players, but we can never succeed if we don’t have a team ready to fulfil all the obligations,” he said. “As you see today, he comes out, he performs. Other players also come and they did well. This is the most important thing.”


He stated that the unity among the players was instrumental in securing the vital point, rather than tactics alone.


“When 11 men go inside one pitch and they share a common dream, things can happen,” Queiroz said. “All my players, they play for each other. They don’t play for the scoreboard. They don’t play against the watch. They don’t play against the history. They just play for each other, to the teammate that was side by side with them.”


“And when it was necessary to go forward, they knew they had a team behind them. That’s why I was very pleased with them.”


Ghana and England both move to four points in Group L. The Black Stars face Croatia in their final group game on 28 June, with qualification for the Round of 16 still in their hands.


“We have 26 players ready to perform,” Queiroz added. “Congratulations to them.”

World Cup 2026: Benjamin Asare stars as Ghana hold England to goalless draw

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World Cup 2026: Benjamin Asare stars as Ghana hold England to goalless draw

Ghana and England settled for a pulsating 0-0 draw at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday evening, leaving the top spot of World Cup Group L fairly balanced, as both countries are on four points after two games.


Carlos Queiroz made four changes to the team that secured the all-important 1-0 win over Panama, handing starts to Thomas Partey, Inaki Williams, Benjamin Asare, and Kwasi Sibo in a 4-3-3 formation.


Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare replaced the injured Lawrence Ati-Zigi in goal, with the back four of Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku, and Gideon Mensah remaining unchanged.


The Three Lions dominated possession early on, with Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice in midfield. However, Ghana’s midfield trio of Partey, Sibo, and Caleb Yirenkyi remained resolute and focused, keeping the Three Lions at bay. England captain Harry Kane had the best chance of the first half in the 34th minute from close range, but his effort was met with a superb save by Asare.


Ghana had its own opportunity on the hour mark after Inaki Williams broke behind John Stones and forced a sharp save from Jordan Pickford, with Antoine Semenyo firing the rebound over.


Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford called Asare into action from distance, while Jordan Ayew and Semenyo looked to hit England on the break. Neither side could find a breakthrough in front of 65,878 spectators at Gillette Stadium.


England was lucky not to have conceded a penalty late in the game when Ezri Konsa challenged Prince Kwabena Adu in the area, bringing him down without making any contact with the ball.


The result means England and Ghana each sit on four points in Group L. Ghana faces Croatia in its final group game on June 28.

World Cup 2026: Preview – Ghana battle England in a fierce Group L encounter

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World Cup 2026: Preview – Ghana battle England in a fierce Group L encounter

By: Bernard Nyankomago Kwasi

It will certainly be a cracker when the Black Stars of Ghana come face to face with the Three Lions of England in their second 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage match at Boston Stadium in USA. Kick-off is exactly 8pm local time.

Captain Harry Kane and his England team pipped Group L counterparts Croatia 4-2 in their opening match. Goal machine Harry Kane got a brace for England.

The Black Stars of Ghana on the hand showed total determination to score a last minute goal to conquer a well organised and resolute Panama (1-0) courtesy strong midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi.

England currently enjoy at the summit of Group L with three points apiece with Ghana who are second on the log sheet.

The only thing that separates both teams is goals difference. England has plus two goals while Ghana has plus one.

Both teams will therefore give out their all to boost their chances of qualification from the group to the round of 32.

In their last international friendly encounter in 2011, England and Ghana settled on a pulsating 1-1 draw. This evening’s clash will be a battle for supremacy and points.

Having missed the first game at the BMO Field in Toronto due to visa issues, deputy captain Thomas Teye Partey will return to full action today.

He will join forces with in-form Caleb Yirenkyi and co in the midfield to supply the balls upfront to strikers Antoine Semenyo and Brandon Thomas Asante who was architect behind the first victory.

Goalkeeper Ati Zigi might miss the England game due to injury concerns but Benjamin Asare is ready to take up the mantle with the necessary protection from Marvin Senaya, Gideon Mensah, Jonas Adjetey and Jerome Opoku in defence.

The match is scheduled to kickoff at 20:00 GMT (8PM).

We have 33 million lions to fight – Carlos Queiroz rallies team for England showdown

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We have 33 million lions to fight – Carlos Queiroz rallies team for England showdown

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has said that Tuesday’s World Cup clash with England will not dwell on past results, but on national identity, discipline, and unity as tension builds ahead of the crucial Group L showdown at Boston Stadium.

With both Ghana and England locked on three points, Queiroz believes the epic clash will be more tactical than legacy-based, urging his side to remain hinged on their own identity, discipline, and unity.

“This is very simple for me,” Queiroz explained during Monday’s pre-match press conference. “We play the competition by points at the moment. It is not the competition where it is everything for the winner, nothing for the loser. We have finished the first part of the game. We are fine, we are ahead. Now we are going to play the second part, and we still have the third part.”

The veteran coach emphasized that his focus remains on securing the points necessary to advance to the knockout stages.“What is important at the end of the three parts of a game is to have the points to qualify the team for the second round. So, we have to study the opponents that are ahead of us,” he added.

Queiroz acknowledges the challenge posed by Gareth Southgate’s side, particularly their technical prowess and the high intensity they exhibit in the Premier League.“England has its strengths, its characteristics. We have ours,” Queiroz noted.

“The most important thing is that we are not going to lose our identity because we want to add points to get to the qualification. We know what the characteristics of the England team are: good players with experience of the Premiership—that is very important—very competitive, high intensity.”

“We also know how to control these situations, and we will try to do it by putting all our strength on the field,” he said.

“Knowing that it is a team that comes with three lions here on the shirt—but we come from Ghana, and we have 33 million lions to fight. That’s what we’re going to do.”

The winner of Tuesday’s match at Boston Stadium takes control of Group L. Kickoff is 4:00 PM ET.

World Cup 2026: Carlos Queiroz promises fireworks as Ghana faces England

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World Cup 2026: Carlos Queiroz promises fireworks as Ghana faces England

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz is anticipating a very intense encounter in Tuesday’s FIFA World Cup match against England at Boston Stadium in the United States.


The Black Stars will take on the Three Lions in their second game in Group L, and Queiroz believes the fixture promises to be entertaining, which will thrill fans worldwide.


Speaking ahead of the epic showdown with both teams on three points, Queiroz described the game as one fit for the world.


“Trust me. Huge entertainment on the pitch. Huge entertainment,” Queiroz said.
“That’s our job. To create entertainment. We belong to the entertainment business. This is our duty and our obligation on behalf of Ghana to create entertainment.”


The veteran coach also indicated England would enter the match with the same intent in Foxborough. “The English team is going to do the same. We’re going to fight, we’re going to play, we’re going to enjoy,” he said.


Queiroz promised the contest would live long in the memory. “It will be a wonderful game. I guarantee you there will be memories and hearts of people after the game finishes.”


The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 PM ET. The winner of the encounter will take control of the Group L.

World Cup 2026: Ghana stuns Panama with 95th-minute winner

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World Cup 2026: Ghana stuns Panama with 95th-minute winner

Ghana defeated Panama 1-0 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L opener on Wednesday at the BMO Field in Toronto, Canada.

World Cup debutant Caleb Yirenkyi grabbed the only goal of the match to secure all three points for the Black Stars.

Yirenkyi together with Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku, and Ernest Nuamah earned their first ever appearance for Ghana at the World Cup in a mixed youth with experience, led by captain Jordan Ayew.

After a tense first half and decent exchanges, the decisive moment came in the 95th minute. The debutant started the attack from midfield as he located Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo who drove through midfield before Yirenkyi smashed the ball into the net after getting on the end of Brandon Thomas-Asante’s pass.

Substitute Benjamin Asare made a strong save to preserve Ghana’s advantage from Ismael Díaz in the 98th minute, while the defensive quartet of Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku and Gideon Mensah stood firm to secure a clean sheet.

Antoine Semenyo and Ernest Nuamah made several threatening runs on the wings, with captain Ayew leading the line as Ghana controlled the second half to secure the three vital points in Group L.

Brandon Thomas-Asante, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Kwasi Sibo, and Kwabena Adu in the second half came on for Kamal Deen Sulemana, Jordan Ayew, Elisha Owusu and Ernest Nuamah respectively. Their impacts were highly felt upon coming on.

Ghana second in Group L ahead of matches against England and Croatia.

Ghana will play giants England in Boston on Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026.

World Cup 2026: Preview – Ghana begin campaign against Panama

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World Cup 2026: Preview – Ghana begin campaign against Panama

Ghana’s senior soccer males team, the Black Stars commence their fifth FIFA World Cup campaign on Wednesday night against Panama in Toronto, Canada.

The encounter which happens to be the first ever senior international meeting between the two nations, promises to be en epic opener in Group L, which also houses giants England and Croatia.

The Black Stars touched down in Toronto on Monday afternoon following a successful completion of a 10-day training camp at Bryant University in Providence, Rhode Island, in the United States. Coach Carlos Queiroz’s charges had been since their final international friendly against Wales in Cardiff on June 2, 2026. No injuries were recorded as the Ghanaian side rounded off their preparatory activities.

Panama on the other hand are making their second World Cup appearance following their debut at Russia 2018. Led by Thomas Christiansen, they boast of an experienced squad including captain Aníbal Godoy, Marseille’s Michael Amir Murillo, and Houston Dynamo playmaker Adalberto Carrasquilla.

Team News

Ghana: Coach Queiroz confirmed that his players are fit and available. Captain Jordan Ayew leads a squad blending experience — Antoine Semenyo, Gideon Mensah, Baba Abdul Rahman, Lawrence Ati-Zigi and Inaki Williams — with emerging talent – Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Ernest Nuamah, Caleb Yirenkyi, Joas Adjetey, and Kamal Deen Sulemana.

“We did everything possible to have our players ready for tomorrow,” Queiroz said on Tuesday. “All games are a must-win. The only medicine that works in football is to win.”

Panama: Christiansen has no reported injury concerns as well. The spine of his team is built around Godoy, Carrasquilla, and striker Ismael Díaz. Murillo and Fidel Escobar provide steel at the back.

Carlos Queiroz: “We know the size of the mountain that we have in front of us that we have to climb. But we need player number 12. I hope the drums of Ghana will be 90 minutes in our hearts to help us beat our opponents.”

Form Guide

Ghana – Unbeaten in Six FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2025. The team drew 1-1 with Wales in the June friendly.

Panama: W-W-W-D-L in last 5. Unbeaten in 2026 qualifying and won the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Match Facts

This is Ghana’s 5th World Cup: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022, 2026


This is Panama’s 2nd World Cup: 2018, 2026
Panama lost 3-0 to Belgium in their debut World Cup game in 2018


Kick-off is set for 7pm ET (11pm local Time) – at BMO Field in Toronto on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Carlos Queiroz declares Panama game as a must-win for the Black Stars

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Carlos Queiroz declares Panama game as a must-win for the Black Stars

Black Stars Head Coach Carlos Queiroz has expressed his side’s readiness for Wednesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Panama in Toronto.

According to him, the technical team and the playing body have made preparations to secure a victory for Ghana.

He indicated that he is anticipating a difficult task on the day, since nothing comes easy in football.

“Starting from that, what I have learned in football is that all games are a must-win. When we are in a club, we start the preparation. The first friendly game for the season is a must-win. The second is a must-win. I never remember in my life to play one game that was not a must-win. Why? Because our value is not based on intentions or wishes,” he said.

“Our value is based on results. The only medicine that works in football is to win. We are ready to fight for the results, knowing that nothing comes easy in football. As I said before, we have one team in front of us that has the same wishes and expectations.

“You mentioned one issue in the preparation. We played one game, but it was not the only game that the team played. There were other games before that we took lessons from. In terms of preparation, life is simple for us in football. One training is better than zero, two is better than one, three is better than two, and so on.

“Two games are better than one, three is better than two. But if you only have one game, you have to take the best of that situation. If we play one game, we train more,” he concluded.

The Ghana contingent landed in Toronto on Monday afternoon following successful pre-tournament preparations in the United States.

Carlos Queiroz’s charges have been based in the US since their friendly encounter against Wales earlier this month at the Cardiff Stadium.

All 26 players were fully involved in the team’s training sessions, with no reports of injury concerns ahead of the Group L opener.

The Black Stars held their official training session at BMO Field on Tuesday evening. Ghana will play Panama at 7:00 PM ET (23:00 GMT) on Wednesday, June 17, in what will be the nation’s fifth appearance at the FIFA World Cup.

Thomas Partey’s appeal rejected by Canadian Court. No World Cup opener for the midfielder

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Thomas Partey’s appeal rejected by Canadian Court. No World Cup opener for the midfielder

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will be unable to feature for the Black Stars after a Canadian Federal Court judge upheld the decision to deny him entry into the country ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening fixture against Panama on Wednesday.

The much-anticipated ruling was made on Tuesday following a hearing where Partey’s representatives filed an appeal to overturn the initial decision by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to deny the former Arsenal star entry into Canada.

The court’s decision indicates that the 33-year-old remains unavailable for selection as he cannot enter Canada—a decision that will hugely affect the Ghana team on the eve of their first game against Panama.

Partey’s visa application was rejected by Canadian authorities due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom.

The midfielder has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of assault involving four women over alleged incidents said to have occurred between 2020 and 2022.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with a trial scheduled for later this year.

Partey was hopeful of receiving a favorable ruling following tremendous support from both the Government of Ghana and the country’s diplomatic representatives in Canada.

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