England and Ghana meet at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday for a crucial Group L clash at the 2026 World Cup, with both sides chasing a win that would lock up a place in the last 32.
The Three Lions opened their tournament in style last week, beating Croatia 4-2 thanks to a Harry Kane brace plus goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford. For Thomas Tuchel’s side, it was their first World Cup win over a team in the top 15 of the FIFA rankings in nine attempts, ending a six-match losing streak against elite opposition.
England’s attacking output was historic. They fired off 20 shots inside the penalty area, a new World Cup record, and their 4-2 scoreline was the first time they’d hit four in a World Cup game since the 1966 final against West Germany.
Sitting top of Group L on goal difference, England will seal a knockout berth with victory over Ghana. Another win would also mark four straight victories in all competitions under Tuchel. The former Chelsea boss has already overseen one run of three straight games with 3+ goals scored — against Serbia, Wales and Latvia last September-October — and could repeat that feat here.
Ghana arrive with momentum of their own after a dramatic 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto. With the game goalless deep into stoppage time, 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi finished a rapid counter-attack in the 95th minute to hand the Black Stars their first opening World Cup win since South Africa 2010.
That result leaves Carlos Queiroz’s men three points from reaching the knockouts for the first time in 16 years. Like England, Ghana will guarantee a top-two finish with a win before facing Croatia on the final matchday.
Yirenkyi’s late strike also ended a four-game winless run for Ghana, a stretch in which they had shipped 10 goals. The clean sheet against Panama was welcome, but the Black Stars have never recorded back-to-back shutouts at a World Cup. Their last high-scoring outing came in October, a 5-0 qualification rout of Comoros.
The only previous meeting between the nations came in 2011, a 1-1 friendly draw at Wembley. Andy Carroll opened the scoring for England before Asamoah Gyan leveled for Ghana.
Team News
England came through the Croatia game with fitness concerns over Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Declan Rice. Saka was managing an Achilles issue while Rashford and Rice had hamstring complaints. All three trained Monday and are expected to be available.
Saka came off the bench to assist Rashford’s goal against Croatia, but Tuchel has suggested Noni Madueke will keep his spot on the right wing. The bigger decision is at center back, where both Ezri Konsa and John Stones were at fault for Croatia’s goals. Marc Guehi is pushing to replace Konsa alongside Stones.
The win over Panama, for Ghana, was overshadowed by Thomas Partey’s absence. The Villarreal midfielder, who denies charges of rape and sexual assault, was denied entry into Canada while awaiting a UK trial. He has been cleared to enter the USA and is expected to be available Tuesday, likely sending Elisha Owusu to the bench.
In goal, Lawrence Ati Zigi came off at half time against Panama with discomfort. Ghana goalkeeping coach Daniel Gaspar said the staff are assessing him day-by-day and he has been seen in training, but other reports claim he could be out for three weeks. Benjamin Asare is set to start if Zigi isn’t risked.
England possible starting XI:
Pickford; James, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Ghana possible starting XI:
Asare; Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku, Minseh; Yirenkyi, Partey; Fatawu, Sulemana, Semenyo; Ayew
