2026 World Cup: England vs. Ghana, Probable Lineups

Matchday 2 of Group L kicks off at 10:00 p.m. on June 23 with the match between England and Ghana, both of which have 3 points after winning their openers.

England impressed with a 4-2 victory over Croatia. After a closely contested first half that ended 2-2 thanks to a brace from Harry Kane, the “Three Lions” shifted into high gear in the second half with goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford, closing out the match in control. Ghana, on the other hand, struggled more than expected against Panama. In a hard-fought match that went down to the wire, the Africans didn’t score the decisive goal until the final moments thanks to Yirenkyi, securing a hard-fought but crucial 1-0 victory.

For England, head coach Thomas Tuchel highlighted the team’s progress, while also noting room for improvement—particularly in defensive organization and concentration during key moments. Harry Kane remains the standout player, already in top form, well supported by Bellingham, Rashford, and Madueke, who is playing an increasingly central role in the team’s attacking rotations.

On the Ghanaian side, there is great satisfaction with the victory but also an awareness of the difficulties that emerged. Head coach Carlos Queiroz is sticking with the 4-3-3 formation, with Semenyo leading the attack alongside Ayew and Nuamah. In midfield, the spotlight is on Yirenkyi, who was already decisive in the opening match.

Probable lineups

England (4-3-3): Pickford; James, Guehi, Stones, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane. Head Coach: Tuchel.

Ghana (4-3-3): Ati-Zigi; Senaya, Adjetey, Opoku, Mensah; Yirenkyi, Owusu, Sulemana; Nuamah, Ayew, Semenyo. Head Coach: Queiroz.