Ghana has been drawn into Group H, where they will face England, Croatia, and Panama in the tournament’s first phase.
Group Stage Schedule and Historical Context
Ghana will commence its campaign against CONCACAF representatives Panama on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The subsequent group fixtures will present a formidable challenge, headlined by a tough match against England. This encounter carries significant weight, as the two sides have met in memorable friendly match in 2011 at Wembley where Asamoah Gyan’s injury-time equaliser deprived England of victory in a highly entertaining friendly match
Croatia, the 2018 finalists, complete a competitive group.
Tournament Overview and New Format
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the largest in history. Expanding from 32 to 48 participating countries, the tournament will feature 12 groups of four teams. The event will kick off on June 11, 2026, and conclude with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026. An additional 22 nations will compete in playoffs in March 2026 to determine the final six qualifiers.
A new competition format will see the total number of matches increase to 104, spread across 16 host cities in North America. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to a newly introduced round of 32. This expanded knockout stage means the eventual world champion will play a total of eight matches.
Host Nation Venue Distribution
The United States will host the majority of matches, with 78 games scheduled across 11 stadiums, including all fixtures from the quarterfinal stage onward. Mexico and Canada will each host 13 matches. The final at MetLife Stadium will also feature the first-ever dedicated halftime show in World Cup history.
The Black Stars will aim to navigate a challenging group as they seek to impress in this historic edition of the FIFA World Cup
The Stars will hoping to avoid a group stage exit in 2026 as they failed in 2022
