England vs Ghana — World Cup 2026

FILE No. M-073CLASS: GROUP MATCHSTATUS: GROUP STAGEWC 2026 · BOSTON

England

0–0

Ghana

Match events

Declan Rice41'
Anthony GordonOn: Bukayo Saka65'
Djed SpenceOn: Nico O'Reilly66'
Jude BellinghamOn: Morgan Rogers73'
Elliot AndersonOn: Eberechi Eze74'
Noni MaduekeOn: Marcus Rashford83'

60'Iñaki Williams
66'Iñaki WilliamsOn: Abdul Fatawu Issahaku
67'Jordan AyewOn: Prince Kwabena Adu
87'Marvin SenayaOn: Kojo Peprah Oppong
95'Prince Kwabena AduOn: Abdul Rahman Baba

EnglandMatch statsGHA

79%Possession21%

19Shots2

3Shots on Target1

9Corners2

14Fouls24

1Yellow Cards1

0Red Cards0

—

England — starting XI

4-2-3-1

Bench

3Nico O'Reilly
7Bukayo Saka
23James Trafford
13Dean Henderson
5John Stones
26Jarell Quansah
15Dan Burn
12Trevoh Chalobah
14Jordan Henderson
21Eberechi Eze
16Kobbie Mainoo
17Morgan Rogers
22Ivan Toney
19Ollie Watkins
11Marcus Rashford

Ghana — starting XI

4-1-4-1

Bench

7Abdul Fatawu Issahaku
25Prince Kwabena Adu
1Lawrence Ati Zigi
12Joseph Anang
21Kojo Peprah Oppong
23Derrick Luckassen
2Alidu Seidu
6Abdul Mumin
17Rahman Baba
13Christopher Baah
15Elisha Owusu
10Brandon Thomas-Asante
20Augustine Boakye
22Kamaldeen Sulemana
24Ernest Nuamah

All-time meetings

England wins

Draws

Ghana wins

02 · Tale of the Tape

Tale of the tape.

23.2

Average Age

27.0

03 · The Form Guide

Last five walks into the room.

Who's hotter going in? Latest competitive results, newest first.

England

Mar 27

at Italy U20

Friendlies · Friendly International · Riano Athletic Center

3–3

Nov 14

vs Japan U20

Friendlies · Friendlies 1

1–1

Oct 10

vs Switzerland U20

Friendlies · Friendlies 1

0–1

Sep 5

vs Italy U20

Friendlies · Friendlies · SMH Group Stadium

1–2

Mar 21

at Portugal U20

U20 Elite League · Group Stage - 3 · Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa

1–1

Ghana

Jun 23

at England

World Cup · Group Stage - 2 · Gillette Stadium

0–0

Jun 17

vs Panama

World Cup · Group Stage - 1 · BMO Field

1–0

Jun 2

at Wales

Friendlies · Friendly International · Cardiff City Stadium

1–1

May 23

at Mexico

Friendlies · Friendly International · Estadio Cuauhtemoc

0–2

Mar 30

at Germany

Friendlies · Friendly International · MHPArena

1–2

05 · Key Battles

Three duels that decide it.

// Right wing vs Left back · The pace test

Madueke's explosive acceleration and low centre of gravity give him the edge against a defender who relies on positioning and experience. Expect early crosses and moments where the Ghana left flank creaks under pressure—but Luckassen's veteran discipline could frustrate if England rush.

// Central midfield duel · The tempo controller

Bellingham's box-to-box dominance and press resistance will dictate England's rhythm, while Opoku must shield Ghana's back line and break up the ebb. Real Madrid's young star is the clear favourite, but if Ghana can compact and deny him space, they stay compact through the middle.

// Centre-back vs Striker · The physical anchor

Stones' calm distribution and reading of space meet Ayew's experience and poacher's instinct. The Manchester City defender should dominate aerially and in one-v-one situations, though Ayew's movement off the ball—refined over years at Leicester—demands constant attention rather than a single decisive moment.

06 · Style Clash

England's control machine meets Ghana's counter-press

England arrive as the technical favourites, building from the back under Tuchel's philosophy, while Ghana—coached by the pragmatic Addo—aim to compress space, win the ball cheaply, and strike on the break.

// Possession-based, press-resistant architects

England

// Direct, counter-oriented campaigners

Ghana

Fluid

Build-up Play

Direct

Structured

Pressing Style

Aggressive

Overloaded

Attacking Width