By Zobia Zulfqar 
Ghana and Panama kick off their 2026 World Cup campaigns with a crucial Group L clash at BMO Field in Toronto on Thursday. With England and Croatia also in the group, both sides know that three points in this opening fixture could prove decisive in the race for a place in the knockout stages.
Panama are appearing at just their second World Cup finals and are still searching for their first point on football’s biggest stage. Ghana, meanwhile, are hoping to improve on recent World Cup performances and make a strong start under new head coach Carlos Queiroz.
The match will take place on Thursday, June 18, with kick-off scheduled for midnight at BMO Field in Toronto. Fans in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on ITV1.
Panama have quietly emerged as one of the rising teams in the CONCACAF region under former Leeds United coach Thomas Christiansen. They reached the final of the 2023 Gold Cup and qualified for the World Cup without losing any of their six qualifying matches.
Although they benefited from the absence of hosts United States, Canada and Mexico during qualification, Panama have continued to impress. They have climbed to 34th in the FIFA rankings and recorded notable victories against the United States, South Africa and Jamaica over the last 18 months.
However, questions remain about how they perform against elite opposition. Their recent 6-2 defeat to Brazil in a warm-up match exposed defensive weaknesses that Ghana may look to exploit.
Ghana’s preparations have been far from smooth. The Black Stars appointed Carlos Queiroz only two months before the tournament after parting ways with Otto Addo. They also suffered a major setback with the absence of experienced midfielder Thomas Partey, who was denied a visa to enter Canada.
The uncertainty surrounding the squad means Ghana enter the tournament with plenty of unanswered questions despite their experience against top-level teams.
Both teams are likely to view this fixture as their best chance to secure a victory before facing England and Croatia later in the group stage.
Panama have shown a willingness to attack and have scored consistently in recent matches. Both teams have found the net in eight of Panama’s last ten games. Ghana, meanwhile, have struggled defensively, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last ten World Cup matches.
While Carlos Queiroz is known for his organized and disciplined approach, he has had limited time to implement his ideas with the squad. That combination could produce an open and entertaining contest.
A narrow Ghana victory appears the most likely outcome, although Panama have enough quality to make life difficult for the Black Stars.
One of the strongest betting selections for the match is both teams to score. Panama’s attacking approach and Ghana’s defensive struggles support that prediction.
Antoine Semenyo is the player to watch. The Bournemouth forward enjoyed an outstanding domestic campaign, scoring 17 Premier League goals and adding four assists. Although he has yet to consistently replicate that form for Ghana, he remains the player most capable of producing a decisive moment.
Ghana will be without Thomas Partey following his visa denial. Defender Jerome Opoku is also being monitored after picking up a knock against Wales in the team’s final warm-up match.
Ghana’s expected starting lineup is: Ati-Zigi; Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah; Yirenkyi, Sibo; Nuamah, Williams, Semenyo; Ayew.
For Panama, midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla missed recent warm-up fixtures through injury but has returned to training and could start.
Panama’s expected lineup is: Mosquera; Ramos, Cordoba, Andrade; Murillo, Godoy, Carrasquilla, Davis; Jose Rodriguez, Waterman, Fajardo.
Several statistics add intrigue to the contest. Both teams have scored in eight of Panama’s last ten matches. Ghana have won only one of their previous seven World Cup games and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last ten World Cup appearances. Panama have drawn seven of their last 14 matches, while they also conceded the most goals during the 2018 World Cup.
With both teams desperate to gain an early advantage in Group L, fans can expect an intense and competitive encounter in Toronto. Ghana’s tournament experience may give them a slight edge, but Panama’s recent form suggests they are more than capable of causing an upset. Whatever the outcome, the opening match promises drama as both nations chase a dream start to their World Cup journey.
Source: Racing Post