The 2026 World Cup’s Group L throws up a tasty matchday-two clash as England face Ghana in Foxborough, with both sides chasing top spot. This England vs Ghana match preview breaks down our prediction, team form, probable lineups and the latest betting markets for UK punters. Kick-off is 9pm BST on Tuesday 23 June, live on BBC One.
Our Prediction for England vs Ghana 23/06/2026
Both teams won their openers, so this is effectively a battle for control of Group L. England beat Croatia 4-2, while Ghana ground out a 1-0 win over Panama. Thomas Tuchel’s side are overwhelming favourites.
Our England vs Ghana score prediction is a comfortable 2-0 win for England. The Three Lions have far more quality across the pitch, and Ghana’s modest attacking output against Panama suggests they will struggle to score here.
England are huge favourites at around 1.20, giving them roughly an 82% chance of victory, with Ghana big outsiders near 12.00.
At that short price, the straight win offers little value. Among our England vs Ghana betting tips, England to win to nil and an England minus-one handicap look the smarter plays, given Ghana’s blunt attack. Harry Kane to score anytime is another tempting option. England’s main task is simply to avoid the defensive lapses that let Croatia score twice.
Predicted Scoreline: England 2-0 Ghana
Recommended Bet: England to Win
England Form Analysis
England could hardly have made a more eye-catching start. A 4-2 win over Croatia, the side that knocked them out in the 2018 semi-final, showcased real attacking firepower, with Harry Kane converting an early penalty.
That result reflected Tuchel’s attacking blueprint, though it came with a warning. England conceded twice and looked vulnerable in transition when their full-backs pushed forward, an issue the manager will want to fix.
The talent on show is undeniable. Kane leads the line, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice control midfield, and Bukayo Saka provides the creative spark from wide areas.
Against Ghana, Tuchel will demand more defensive discipline, with Rice asked to shield the back four. England carry the firepower to win comfortably, but tightening up at the back is the priority after that wide-open opener in Dallas. A professional performance should see them through.
Ghana Form Analysis
Ghana arrive in decent shape after a hard-fought start. A 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto, settled by a dramatic late goal, gave the Black Stars a vital three points and a clean sheet.
That result said plenty about Carlos Queiroz’s side. The Portuguese coach, who replaced Otto Addo in March, has built his team on defensive organisation, and Ghana absorbed heavy Panamanian pressure to grind out the win.
The concern is at the other end. Ghana created very little against Panama and badly miss the creativity of the absent Mohammed Kudus. Captain Jordan Ayew and the pacy Antoine Semenyo must carry the attacking burden.
Iñaki Williams offers relentless running up front, while Thomas Partey anchors the midfield. Ghana will likely sit deep, stay compact and look to hit England on the break. Containing England’s attack for 90 minutes, though, is a huge ask for a side ranked outside the world’s top 70.
England vs Ghana Betting Odds
The England vs Ghana betting odds reflect a clear mismatch. England are priced as short as 1.20 to 1.22, with the draw out near 5.75 to 6.30 and a Ghana win a huge 12.00 to 13.00.
Those England vs Ghana odds give the Three Lions around an 82% implied chance of victory. With the win priced so short, the value sits elsewhere. Over 2.5 goals trades at a tempting 1.63, reflecting England’s firepower, while both teams to score is out near 2.33 to 2.40.
For value, an England minus-one handicap and England to win to nil both appeal, given Ghana’s struggles in attack. A Harry Kane anytime scorer bet is another solid option. As always, shop around for the best price before betting.
Where to Watch England vs Ghana
Everything UK viewers need to follow this Group L clash live.
Where to Watch
England vs Ghana, Live on the BBC
Competition
FIFA World Cup 2026 (Group L)
Venue
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
TV / Stream (UK)
BBC One / BBC iPlayer
UK kick-off is 9pm BST on Tuesday 23 June. Confirm the channel and start time against the latest BBC and ITV listings.
Probable Lineups for England vs Ghana
Both managers are expected to keep faith with their matchday-one winners. Here is the probable England vs Ghana lineup, with Tuchel’s 4-2-3-1 set to face Queiroz’s compact, counter-attacking side. England are without the injured Tino Livramento, while Ghana have no fresh concerns beyond the absent Kudus.
Probable Starting XIs
England vs Ghana Lineups
|
England
Formation 4-2-3-1
|
Ghana
Formation 4-3-3
|
| GKJordan Pickford |
GKLawrence Ati-Zigi |
| DEFReece James |
DEFAlidu Seidu |
| DEFMarc Guéhi |
DEFAbdul Mumin |
| DEFEzri Konsa |
DEFJerome Opoku |
| DEFLewis Hall |
DEFGideon Mensah |
| MIDDeclan Rice |
MIDThomas Partey |
| MIDAdam Wharton |
MIDElisha Owusu |
| MIDBukayo Saka |
MIDAbdul Fatawu Issahaku |
| MIDJude Bellingham |
FWDAntoine Semenyo |
| MIDAnthony Gordon |
FWDIñaki Williams |
| FWDHarry Kane (C) |
FWDJordan Ayew (C) |
| Injured / Doubtful |
| Tino Livramento (out) |
Mohammed Kudus (out of squad) |
| Coach: Thomas Tuchel |
Coach: Carlos Queiroz |
Goalkeeper
Defender
Midfielder
Forward
Predicted starting XIs • subject to late team news and fitness checks
Best Bookmakers for England vs Ghana
Four bookmakers stand out for this fixture, each offering strong World Cup coverage and competitive prices for UK bettors.
Highbet and
Mogobet price England at 1.22, with
7bet and
Luckymate fractionally shorter at 1.20. For a Ghana upset, most books agree at around 12.00 to 13.00, while over 2.5 goals is matched at 1.63 across the board.
For a fuller rundown of trusted operators, sign-up offers and tournament markets, see our guide to the best
World Cup betting sites.
Odds are subject to change, so always confirm the current price with the bookmaker before betting. 18+ Please gamble responsibly.
The Last Encounters Between England and Ghana
This is a genuine landmark fixture, as England and Ghana have never met in a competitive match and will do so for the first time at a World Cup. Their only previous meeting came in a friendly.
That game, at Wembley in March 2011, ended 1-1 in front of a crowd of 80,000 that included a huge Ghanaian following. Andy Carroll gave England the lead before Asamoah Gyan, then a Sunderland striker, equalised deep in stoppage time.
Fifteen years on, there is little form guide to draw on. Instead, it is England’s status as tournament favourites against Ghana’s resilience and pace that frames this Group L meeting.
| Date |
Venue |
Competition |
Result |
Goal Scorers |
| 29/03/2011 |
Wembley, London |
International Friendly |
England 1-1 Ghana |
Carroll; Gyan |
England vs Ghana Group L Standings
Both sides won their openers, so this clash effectively decides who tops Group L at the halfway stage. The England vs Ghana standings show the Three Lions leading on goal difference after their 4-2 win, with Ghana level on points following their 1-0 victory.
Croatia and Panama sit at the bottom on zero points and meet in the group’s other fixture. Under the 48-team format, the top two qualify automatically alongside the best third-placed sides, so a win here would move the victor to the brink of the knockout rounds.
2026 FIFA World Cup
Group L Standings
After Matchday 1 • England and Ghana meet as the top two
| # |
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
Pts |
| 1 |
England |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
+2 |
3 |
| 2 |
Ghana |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
+1 |
3 |
| 3 |
Panama |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
0 |
| 4 |
Croatia |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
-2 |
0 |
Qualify (top 2)
Best third-placed contention
Bottom
England and Ghana Players in English Football
This fixture is packed with names familiar to UK fans, with the Premier League heavily represented on both sides.
England’s squad is, naturally, full of top-flight stars, from Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham to Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Marc Guéhi.
Ghana also have a strong English presence. Antoine Semenyo starred for Bournemouth before a January move to Manchester City, while captain Jordan Ayew and winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku both play for Leicester City, and Brandon Thomas-Asante is at Coventry City.
The EFL Connection: Stars Forged in the Championship
This tie is rich in EFL flavour. Ghana field a strong Championship contingent, with Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku at Leicester City and Brandon Thomas-Asante at Coventry City, while Antoine Semenyo first made his name at Bristol City.
England’s stars carry plenty of EFL pedigree too. Jude Bellingham came through Birmingham City, Marc Guéhi spent a formative loan spell at Swansea City, and Morgan Rogers developed at Middlesbrough. For EFL followers, there is plenty to recognise in Foxborough.