What Time Is 🇬🇭 Ghana Playing?

There is a bittersweet note hanging over Ghana's 2026 campaign before it even begins. Mohammed Kudus scored the goal that sealed Ghana's qualification — a 1-0 win over Comoros in October — and is now ruled out of the tournament entirely with a quadriceps injury that required surgery. The man who got them here won't be there. That stings. But this Ghana squad has enough quality to make noise in Group L regardless, and the Black Stars arrive with something to prove after back-to-back group stage exits in 2014 and 2022.

Ghana's greatest World Cup moment remains the 2010 quarterfinal against Uruguay — and it remains one of the most painful too. They came agonizingly close to the semifinals before being denied by Uruguay in one of the most dramatic matches in World Cup history. Luis Suárez's infamous handball on the line, Asamoah Gyan's penalty hitting the bar, the penalty shootout defeat — an entire continent felt that loss. Sixteen years later, Ghana are back and hungry to finally go further.

Captain Jordan Ayew leads the side, with Antoine Semenyo — who joined Manchester City in January — and Iñaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao forming a quick, direct attacking line. Thomas Partey anchors the midfield from Villarreal, bringing experience and composure in the middle of the park. With 15 players making their World Cup debuts, this is a young squad with an average age of around 26 — fast, direct, and with nothing to fear.

Group L on paper favors England and Croatia. But Ghana are the team I'd watch closely. Their opener against Panama is effectively a must-win — and if they get that result, everything opens up. Beat England or Croatia after that and Ghana are basically through. The new 48-team format also means a strong third-place finish could be enough. This group is more open than it looks on paper, and Ghana with Semenyo and Williams running at tired defenses late in games is a genuinely dangerous prospect.