Ghana begin their FIFA World Cup campaign on Wednesday, June 17, facing Panama in a Group L opener at Toronto Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 local time in Toronto (23:00 GMT, 00:00 Thursday BST, 01:00 Thursday CAT).
The Black Stars enter the tournament having missed the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and under new manager Carlos Queiroz, who replaced Otto Addo in April. Queiroz brings previous World Cup experience, having taken charge of Iran just ahead of the 2022 tournament and after a long earlier spell with that side. His coaching career also includes a 2002 stint in South Africa that ended amid controversy involving the appointment of Jomo Sono as technical director.
Recent preparation has been mixed. Ghana lost 2-0 to Mexico in a match in which Queiroz was absent from the bench, then drew 1-1 with Wales when Caleb Yirenkyi scored the first Ghana goal under Queiroz. Squad selection for the tournament features notable absences: Mohammed Kudus was left out because of fitness concerns related to a January quad injury, and CF Montréal forward Prince Owusu was omitted despite recording nine goals and five assists in 14 MLS appearances (13 starts) this season. Midfielder Thomas Partey will not be available after being denied entry into Canada; he has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one of sexual assault in London and faces an ongoing legal process.
Panama arrive with an experienced group and recent results that include a win and a draw away to South Africa in March. Thomas Christiansen’s side have since lost 6-2 to Brazil, beaten the Dominican Republic 4-2 and drawn 1-1 with Bosnia & Herzegovina in friendlies. Expected lineups list Ghana with Lawrence Ati-Zigi in goal and an Iñaki Williams–Jordan Ayew–Antoine Semenyo front three, while Panama are pencilled to start Orlando Mosquera in goal with José Fajardo leading the attack.
Broadcast details: viewers in Ghana can watch on SuperSport channels 204, 205 and 222; widespread reports indicate Ghana’s public broadcaster GTV, plus Sporty TV and Channel One TV, have secured packages for key World Cup matches. ITV holds rights for this fixture in the UK and FOX has English-language broadcast rights in the United States. The 2026 tournament will mark Ghana’s fifth World Cup appearance in the last six editions; their only knockout runs came in 2006 (round of 16) and 2010 (quarter-finals, eliminated on penalties by Uruguay).
