After ready 54 days following their 1-0 technological advance over Comoros within the ultimate 2026 World Cup qualifier, Ghana’s Black Stars now know their warring parties for the expanded 48-team event.

In Group L, the senior nationwide staff will face 2018 semi-finalists England, 2018 finalists Croatia, and Panama, who’re making handiest their 2d World Cup look.

These 3 groups are new foes for Ghana at this degree, in contrast to repeated match-ups in different Groups equivalent to Mexico and South Africa in 2010, or Scotland and Morocco again in 1998.

Having exited on the team degree of their ultimate two World Cups, together with Qatar 2022, the Black Stars can be aiming to proper previous wrongs at america, Canada, and Mexico version.

Head Coach Otto Addo, who has led Ghana to back-to-back World Cups, is predicted to advance from Group L however is that in reality reasonable?

England

Fourteen years in the past at Wembley, Ghana’s all-time height scorer Asamoah Gyan produced an excellent second via wriggling clear of Joleon Lescott within the field ahead of bending a shocking left-foot roller into the ground nook to cancel out Andy Carroll’s opener in a pleasant. That stays the primary and handiest assembly between the Black Stars and the Three Lions.

England input the 2026 World Cup ranked fourth in the newest FIFA Men’s Rankings after a flawless qualifying marketing campaign with 8 wins from 8, 22 targets scored and none conceded.

Thomas Tuchel’s staff, who’re winners in 1966, are authentic contenders as soon as once more.

They reached the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in 2022, and arrive in North America with one of the vital most powerful squads within the event.

Captain Harry Kane leads the road, supported via world-class abilities like Declan Rice of Arsenal and Real Madrid celebrity Jude Bellingham.

The Three Lions also are unbeaten in opposition to African opposition in 8 fits, together with 5 victories on the World Cup.

Croatia

Croatia can be pushing so far as they are able to as they appear to present a becoming send-off to Luka Modrić.

Their captain, now 40, is sort of definitely taking part in in his ultimate main cross-border event and may just achieve the implausible landmark of 200 profession caps.

Despite by no means successful a significant cross-border trophy of their younger footballing historical past, Croatia have reached the semi-finals of the ultimate two World Cups and arrive in North America ranked tenth in the newest FIFA standings.

Dalić’s males made mild paintings of the qualifiers, cruising to the highest in their team via a six-point margin.

They gained seven in their 8 fits, drew the opposite, scored 26 targets and conceded simply 4.

Their squad nonetheless carries sufficient high quality to hassle any opponent, led via Modrić of AC Milan, Manchester City defender Joško Gvardiol and PSV winger Ivan Perišić.

Ghana have by no means confronted Croatia ahead of, however the Europeans have a excellent document in opposition to African countries on the World Cup, successful two in their 4 conferences and shedding simply as soon as.

Panama

Panama booked their position on the 2026 World Cup via topping Group A within the Concacaf 0.33 spherical, completing unbeaten with 3 wins and 3 attracts in opposition to Suriname, Guatemala and El Salvador.

The marketing campaign accentuated their stable upward push underneath head trainer Thomas Christiansen.

Next 12 months’s event will mark handiest their 2d look at the international degree and their first since Russia 2018.

They arrive in North America with an skilled squad, the similar core team that eradicated the United States from the 2024 Copa América.

Aníbal Godoy (35), Alberto Quintero (37), Eric Davis (34), and goalkeeper Luis Mejía (34) stay influential figures and shape the spine of Christiansen’s staff.

Panama take a seat thirtieth in the newest FIFA ratings and would possibly not boast the famous person energy of alternative Group L warring parties, however their self-discipline makes them an unpredictable problem.

Ghana have by no means confronted Panama in a aggressive event, and conferences between Panama and African countries are uncommon because of their restricted World Cup historical past.

Analysis – Group L poses ‘chance and challenge’ for Ghana

Black Stars trainer Otto Addo mentioned Ghana can “beat anyone on a good day” in his response to the draw. He’s proper and that’s the alternative Ghana will have to clutch.

England are the highest-ranked staff within the team with plain high quality, however Ghana additionally boast gamers who know the English sport neatly, together with Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus and Fatawu Issahaku.

Croatia aren’t essentially the most ruthless aspect within the ultimate 0.33, a significant explanation why they exited on the team degree of ultimate 12 months’s Euros, and Panama seem on paper to be the prospective whipping boys within the team.

However, the Black Stars stay a facet able to slipping on a foul day, and that inconsistency is the problem they will have to keep away from.

Ghana have by no means crushed a top-seeded staff on the World Cup (3 losses, 1 draw), and that run may just simply proceed in opposition to a much more regimented England underneath Thomas Tuchel. Croatia are confirmed competition at this degree, and Panama, ranked thirtieth on the earth – 42 puts above Ghana – aren’t to be underestimated.

Ghana open their marketing campaign on Wednesday, 17 June in opposition to Panama, ahead of going through England six days later and wrapping up the gang phases in opposition to Croatia on 27 June.

Group L is some distance from easy, however a robust get started in opposition to Panama is drastically essential. Ghana have the enjoy and high quality to edge that contest, and a technological advance would inject self assurance forward of the general two fits.

With the expanded structure permitting the most productive 8 third-placed groups to qualify along the highest two from each and every team, a third-place end stays a sensible goal if the Black Stars take their prospects.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made via Readers and Contributors in this platform don’t essentially constitute the perspectives or coverage of Multimedia Group Limited.