A general view as players of England train during an England Training Session on Monday in Kansas City, Kansas. AFP
DOHA: England and Ghana will battle for top spot in Group L when they meet in a highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 clash on at Boston Stadium.
The match, scheduled for 11:00pm (Qatar time), will be the third fixture in Group L, which also includes Croatia and Panama. Both sides opened their campaigns with victories and will be aiming to take a significant step toward the knockout stages with another three points.
England head into the contest on the back of an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening match. Thomas Tuchel’s side showcased their attacking quality and underlined why they are considered among the favourites to advance from the group.
The Three Lions produced an energetic display against the Croatians, with their attacking players causing problems throughout the match. The result handed England an early advantage in the group and provided a strong foundation ahead of what is expected to be a tough challenge against Ghana.
Tuchel had identified the difficulty of Group L even before the tournament began, highlighting the quality of both Croatia and Ghana.
“Difficult group with Croatia and Ghana, two regulars in World Cups and two proud, strong nations,” the England manager said.
England forward Marcus Rashford believes intensity will once again be key if his side are to secure another victory.
“I think we have to bring an intensity that they can’t live with,” Rashford said. “If we can play at that level, it can win you games.”
Ghana also arrive in confident mood after edging Panama 1-0 in their opening Group L encounter. The Black Stars delivered a disciplined performance to secure a valuable victory and boost their hopes of progressing to the next round.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz praised his players’ commitment after the win and stressed the importance of sacrifice at football’s biggest tournament.
“To suffer and play, we have to suffer, there is no other way,” Queiroz said. “We must be ready to make sacrifices because a win in this World Cup is very expensive. But the boys are ready to pay that price.”
The Portuguese coach also expressed optimism about his team’s prospects after the encouraging start.
“With the football we played today, we can count on Ghana to do something,” he said.
However, Ghana could face a concern ahead of the match, with goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi's availability remaining uncertain after sustaining an injury in the victory over Panama. Queiroz said it was still too early to determine whether the shot-stopper would be fit to face England.
Forward Antoine Semenyo has already sent a message of intent ahead of the clash, insisting Ghana are determined to make a statement on the world stage.
“We want to prove a point,” Semenyo said.
Veteran forward Jordan Ayew, meanwhile, called for focus as Ghana seek to build on their opening success.
“We have two important games left. We take it game by game,” Ayew said. “We are focused on getting the three points in the next match.”
