The Black Stars of Ghana kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in dramatic fashion, securing a thrilling 1-0 victory over Panama in their Group L opener at Toronto’s BMO Stadium.
Panama seemed poised to secure their first-ever World Cup point by frustrating the four-time African champions for the vast majority of the match.
However, deep into stoppage time, Caleb Yirenkyi broke Panamanian hearts by netting a sensational 95th-minute winner.
The hard-fought victory marks a historic milestone for Ghana, drawing them level with Nigeria for the record of most FIFA World Cup wins by an African nation, with six victories each.
Meanwhile, Group L’s other heavyweights put on an explosive showcase of attacking football as England defeated Croatia 4-2 in a high-octane encounter.
Three Lions captain, Harry Kane, led from the front, netting a brilliant brace to ensure his side walked away with all three points.
The clinical performance leaves England and Ghana sitting comfortably at the top of the Group L standings, while Croatia and Panama find themselves with early ground to make up in the tournament.
Over in Group K, in that first match, the Democratic Republic of Congo put on a resilient display to hold European powerhouse, Portugal, to a 1-1 draw.
João Neves had given the Portuguese an early lead with a header inside six minutes, but Yoane Wissa restored parity for the Leopards with a brilliant header of his own in first-half stoppage time.
In the group’s second game, Colombia launched their World Cup journey with a commanding 3-1 victory over tournament debutants, Uzbekistan, at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Daniel Muñoz, Luiz Díaz and Jaminton Campaz scored for the South Americans, while Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored for the debutants.
