2026 FIFA World Cup — Group L, Matchday 2 | June 23 | Boston Stadium, Foxborough
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — They had 21 percent of the ball. They took one shot. They completed fewer than 200 passes. And they walked off the pitch with a point against England.
Ghana’s 0-0 draw with the Three Lions was not a football match in the traditional sense. It was a siege. England attacked. Ghana defended. England attacked again. Ghana defended again. For 96 minutes, the pattern never changed.
And when the final whistle blew, the Ghanaian players fell to the ground in exhaustion and joy. They had done it.
The Defensive Masterclass
Ghana’s back four — Agyei, Opoku, Mensah, and Senaya — played the match of their lives. They blocked shots. They won headers. They cleared crosses. They never lost concentration.
Harry Kane, the man who scored twice against Croatia, was reduced to two shots — both blocked. Declan Rice, who scored against Croatia, missed two headers. Callum O’Reilly hit the crossbar in the 76th minute — the closest England came to scoring.
Ghana’s goalkeeper, Joseph Asare, made three saves. But the real heroes were the defenders in front of him.
Group L Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 4 |
| 2 | Croatia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 1 |
| 3 | Ghana | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| 4 | Panama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Match Details:
- England 0-0 Ghana
- Venue: Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA
- Goals: None
- Man of the Match: Mohammed Opoku (Ghana)