World Cup

Ghana vs Panama World Cup 2026 prediction

Ghana-Panama in Group L completes the opening round of matches in Toronto, Canada. These two nations are in the same group as England and Croatia, who play earlier on Thursday.

Carlos Queiroz leads Ghana into their fifth World Cup from the past six editions, having never previously qualified until Germany 2006. They were eliminated with one win and two losses in Qatar 4.5 years ago.

Ghana were excellent in qualifying, taking 25 of a possible 30 points, a perfect record at home and losing only at Comoros. Madagascar, Mali, Central African Republic and Chad were the other nations making up the group.

Mr Relegation, Jordan Ayew top scored for the Black Stars with seven goals. He is coming off a second consecutive relegation with Leicester City in England, havnig scored just six goals in 42 Championship outings this past campaign. Although Ayew hasn’t scored double figures in a league campaign since the 2014-15 French Ligue 1 season. The 34-year-old should start, with Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo, Athletic Bilbao’s Inaki Williams and/or Lyon’s Ernest Nuamah up front.

Thomas Partey is unavailable after being denied entry into Canada, so Ghana’s midfield could see Real Oviedo’s Kwasi Sibo in the middle. AJ Auxerre’s Elisha Owusu, and Atalanta’s Kamaldeen Sulemana should also feature. Defensively, VfL Wolfsburg’s Jonas Adjetey, Auxerre’s Gideon Mensah, PAOK’s Abdul Rahman Baba and Renne’s Alidu Seidu are all in the squad.

Panama are playing in only their second-ever World Cup having qualified for Russia 2018 where they lost all three games, scoring twice and conceding 11. They went four from four in the first stage of qualifying in CONCACAF, before winning three and drawing three in a group with Suriname, Guatemala and El Salvador to progress to the World Cup finals.

The Central American side’s players include Norwich City’s José Córdoba, Minnesota United’s Carlos Harvey and San Diego’s Aníbal Godoy, but otherwise not a very well-known squad at all. From what I saw in qualifying they are hardworking and defensive. They’ll do well to get a single point in this group.

Ghana should have too much quality in this one and pick up three points before more challenging games versus England and Croatia. Surprised they’re odds against though.

Best bet: Ghana to win is 23/20 with Bet365