On Tuesday, June 23, in Foxborough (Boston), Ghana held a helpless England team to a 0-0 draw on the second day of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. Thanks to a top-notch defensive performance, the Black Stars secured a valuable point and took a big step towards qualification.

An impenetrable Ghanaian wall in the first half

After a convincing start against Croatia, Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions hoped to secure their place in the round of 32 in front of David Beckham. However, despite dominating possession from the opening minutes, the English struggled to break down the compact defense of Carlos Queiroz's men.

1. 14th minute: Declan Rice fires the first shot with his right foot, but the ball sails over the bar.
2. 36th minute: A header from Declan Rice goes just over Benjamin Asare's goal.
3. 42nd minute: Ghana has its biggest attacking scare of the first half with a cross shot from Antoine Semenyo.
4. 45th+1: Harry Kane, invisible until now, sees his left-footed attempt blocked at the last moment by Marvin Senaya.

At halftime, the lack of creativity from the English is playing into the hands of an ultra-disciplined Ghana.

Harry Kane silenced, Ghana achieves its feat

The second half began at a slightly more disjointed pace. Marvin Senaya broke into the English penalty area before being stopped by Djed Spence (50th minute). For England, Anthony Gordon tried his luck from the edge of the box, but was denied by a vigilant Benjamin Asare (57th minute).

In the 69th minute, Harry Kane finally made his mark with a low shot that was well saved by the Ghanaian goalkeeper. The English champions would ultimately miss their chance late in the game: after a crossbar deflected by O'Reilly, the Bayern Munich striker uncharacteristically missed the target (86th minute).

This goalless draw (0-0) feels like a victory for the Africans. With four points from two matches , England and Ghana remain joint leaders of the group, pending the outcome of the other group match between Panama and Croatia. Sixteen years after their epic run in 2010, the Black Stars have never been closer to returning to the World Cup finals.

Post-match reactions

Thomas Tuchel (England manager): "Ghana defended with remarkable determination and discipline. We lacked space and finishing touch, especially Harry [Kane]. It was a frustrating match for our fans against a very athletic team. Nothing is easy in this tough group."

Carlos Queiroz (Ghana coach): "Football is also about tactical intelligence. We were determined to control their attacks and we thoroughly deserved this draw. I congratulate my players for their solidarity and concentration. This point against England deserved to be celebrated; everything remains open for qualification."