Ghana begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on Wednesday with an important Group L match against Panama.
With England and Croatia also in the group, Ghana know that a win against Panama would give them a strong start under new head coach Carlos Queiroz.
How Can Ghana Beat Panama?
Improving the Defence
One of Carlos Queiroz’s first jobs has been fixing the defensive problems that affected Ghana earlier this year and contributed to the departure of former coach Otto Addo.
Queiroz is known for building organised teams that are difficult to break down. During his time with Iran, his teams defended well against strong opponents such as Spain and Portugal at the World Cup through good organisation and discipline.
The defeats to Austria and Germany in March showed that Ghana’s biggest issue was defensive organisation rather than a lack of talented players. Bringing back structure and discipline will be an important part of Queiroz’s plans.
This is why Jonas Adjei Adjetey and Jerome Opoku are expected to play key roles in defence, providing strength in the air and helping to keep the back line organised.
Tactical Changes Could Be Important
Ghana will also need their attacking players to adjust quickly to the ideas of the new coach.
A key player will be Antoine Semenyo. The striker enjoyed an excellent 2025/26 season, scoring 17 goals and providing four assists during his club campaign.
It will also be important for the players to fully follow the defensive style that Queiroz wants to introduce. Although he has not had much time with the squad, he has shown throughout his career that he can quickly organise teams.
The match against Panama is extremely important. With games against England and Croatia still to come, dropping points in the opening match would make qualification much more difficult.
Taking Chances in Front of Goal
Jordan Ayew goes into the tournament as one of Ghana’s most important players after playing a major role in qualification.
The forward scored seven goals and provided seven assists as Ghana secured a place at the World Cup.
However, Ayew will need to move the ball quickly and help Ghana attack with greater speed. His understanding with the team’s other forwards could be very important against Panama.
Chances may be limited during the match, so Ayew, Semenyo and the rest of Ghana’s attackers must stay calm in front of goal and make the most of their opportunities.
Match Details
The Group L match between Ghana and Panama will be played on Wednesday, June 17.
Kick-off is scheduled for 23:00 GMT.
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