The Black Stars of Ghana were drawn into a fiercely competitive Group D for the expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 yesterday, setting up a clash of continents against giants England and Croatia, alongside CONCACAF side Panama.
The dramatic pairing was instantly assessed on stage by Ghana’s legendary striker and all-time leading goal scorer, Asamoah Gyan, who was a special guest at the draw ceremony held in Miami.
Gyan’s spontaneous reaction immediately set the tone for Ghana’s confident approach to the tournament, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Gyan’s Confident Reaction
As the draw unfolded, placing Ghana in a group with the Three Lions of England and the formidable 2022 bronze medallists Croatia, the camera focused on the former Black Stars Captain.
Gyan, who remains the highest-scoring African player in World Cup history with 6 goals, beamed with palpable excitement.
Gyan immediately relished the clash with England, a fixture long anticipated by fans in both nations due to their deep footballing connections.
He acknowledged the daunting nature of the group, which under the new 48-team tournament format will see the top two teams and the best third-placed teams across the 12 groups advance to the Round of 32.
“Well, I think it is a tricky group. All four teams want to qualify, and definitely, we are optimistic back home. Everybody back home wants Ghana to qualify. We will do our best to qualify for the next stage,” Asamoah Gyan said.
England: Ranked among the top five globally, England represents a major hurdle. Ghana’s only senior encounter with the Three Lions ended in a 1-1 draw in a 2011 international friendly.
Croatia: Known for their tactical discipline and veteran leadership, Croatia reached the final in 2018 and the semi-finals in 2022, consistently defying expectations at major tournaments.
Panama: While the perceived ‘easier’ opponent, Panama is a physical and determined side from the CONCACAF region, adding an element of unpredictability to the group dynamics.
This will mark Ghana’s fifth appearance at the World Cup finals, following successful campaigns in 2006, 2010 (where they reached the quarter-finals), 2014, and 2022.
The Black Stars’ task now shifts to meticulous preparation, aiming to navigate the challenging group stage and potentially surpass their historical best performance from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
