Ghana’s Black Stars now know their route through the group phase of the 2026 World Cup, where they have been drawn to face England, Croatia and Panama in a challenging opening round.
Their campaign begins on Wednesday, June 17, when Ghana meets Panama in Dallas. That fixture will mark the team’s first appearance at a tournament that is set to be the biggest in World Cup history.
The 2026 edition, shared by the United States, Canada and Mexico, begins on June 11 and reaches its finale on July 26 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. FIFA’s decision to expand the competition from 32 to 48 teams has reshaped nearly every part of the event. Twelve groups of four will contest the first stage, while playoffs in March will determine the final six nations that join the field.
This expanded format stretches the competition to July 19 and increases the match tally from 64 to 104. Sixteen venues across North America will be in use, with the United States hosting the bulk of the action. Seventy-eight matches will take place in eleven NFL stadiums, and all knockout games from the quarterfinals forward will be played on American soil. Canada and Mexico will each stage thirteen fixtures.
The final, set for MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, will also debut a World Cup halftime show, a first in the tournament’s history.
Under the new structure, group winners, runners-up and the eight strongest third-placed sides will advance to a fresh round of 32. Any team that goes on to lift the trophy must fight through eight matches in total.
