The line has been drawn for the highly anticipated Group L clash between Ghana and England, with the two sides set to battle for supremacy.
The match, which will be the second for both teams in the group, is scheduled for Tuesday night at 10pm at Boston Stadium in Massachusetts, USA.
England currently top the group with three points after opening their campaign with a 4-2 victory over a stubborn Croatia in Arlington, Texas. Captain Harry Kane led by example, scoring a brace, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also found the back of the net.
Ghana, on the other hand, began their campaign on a high note after beating Panama 1-0. The victory was Ghana’s sixth at the FIFA World Cup, drawing them level with Nigeria for the most World Cup wins by an African nation.
Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz praised his players for their determination and commitment after the victory.
“I am tired. This was a really intensive game. Wins in this World Cup are very expensive,” Queiroz said.
“Our players have shown that they are ready to pay a high price for victory.”
Caleb Yirenkyi sealed Ghana’s victory with his first international goal. The 20-year-old FC Nordsjaelland midfielder was released by Thomas Asante during a swift counter-attack before calmly finishing the move.
Ghana are second in Group L behind England, and a draw between the two sides would guarantee both teams a place in the 32-team knockout rounds.
Panama and Croatia, who are both without points, will face each other in a crucial encounter as they fight for a top-three finish and a possible route to the next round.
The Black Stars have previously represented Africa with pride at the World Cup. They reached the last 16 in Germany in 2006 before progressing to the quarter-finals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
However, Ghana were eliminated in the group stages in Brazil in 2014 and Qatar in 2022.
It remains to be seen how far the Black Stars will go at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America.