Ghana kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in Group L, thanks to a stoppage-time strike from Caleb Yirenkyi. The match, held in Toronto, Canada, on Wednesday, seemed destined for a goalless draw before Yirenkyi's late heroics.
Match Overview
Both teams struggled to break the deadlock in a tightly contested encounter. Ghana enjoyed more possession but faced a disciplined and well-organized Panamanian defense that remained compact and limited clear scoring opportunities. Panama also posed occasional threats on the counter-attack, keeping Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi alert throughout the match.
Just when the match appeared to end in a stalemate, Yirenkyi struck in stoppage time to secure a hard-fought win for the Black Stars. The late goal denied Panama a valuable point and ensured Ghana made a winning start to their World Cup 2026 campaign.
Dramatic Scenes
The game witnessed dramatic moments, including a collision between a Panama player and Ghana goalkeeper Asare. Notably, the only two winning goals scored in the 90th minute or later at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far have both resulted in 1-0 victories for African nations—Caleb Yirenkyi for Ghana against Panama and Amad Diallo for Cote d'Ivoire against Ecuador.
Group L Standings
The result leaves Ghana second in Group L behind England on goal difference after the opening round of fixtures. Panama sits third, while Croatia is at the bottom following their defeat to England.
England's Convincing Win
Earlier, World Cup contenders England secured a convincing 4-2 win over Croatia in what has been the most entertaining match of the tournament so far. England captain Harry Kane delivered a commanding performance, scoring a brace against Croatia. His first goal came from the penalty spot in the 12th minute, and his second arrived in the 42nd minute, helping England secure a strong start to their campaign.
The in-form Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the victory with impressive second-half strikes as England pulled away in a high-intensity contest. Croatia had twice fought back to level the scores in a seesaw first half. First, Martin Baturina canceled out Harry Kane's retaken penalty with a thumping finish, and then Petar Musa equalized after Kane had struck again with a header.
