England failed to convert its dominance into goals as it played to a 0-0 draw with Ghana on Tuesday in Foxborough, Massachusetts, during the 2026 World Cup, the Associated Press reported. Coach Carlos Queiroz, who previously faced England with Iran in a 6-2 loss at the 2022 tournament, implemented a plan to block and frustrate the English attack that succeeded in securing a valuable point for his side. The result leaves both teams well-positioned in Group L after opening victories, with advancement to the knockout stage likely within reach under the tournament’s expanded format.
According to the Associated Press, England outshot Ghana 19-1 but came up empty in the rain-filled contest, including a late opportunity in the 86th minute when Nico O’Reilly’s header struck the crossbar and Harry Kane sent the rebound over the bar. England midfielder Jude Bellingham expressed frustration with Ghana’s setup, telling reporters that the opponents achieved exactly what they set out to do despite England’s corners, possession and shots. “Frustrated a little bit with how they defended, how they set up. They got exactly out of the game what they played for. Couldn’t quite break them down, even with all corners, all the possession, all the shots on goal from distance,” Bellingham said.
The Associated Press noted that both teams won their first matches, Ghana defeating Panama 1-0 and England beating Croatia 4-2, meaning four points apiece after two games in the group. With the first 48-team World Cup featuring 12 groups of four, FIFA rules stipulate that the top two teams from each group advance automatically to the Round of 32, joined by the eight best third-placed sides across all groups. A Reuters report quoted Queiroz as saying his team’s goal “was to frustrate England and we succeeded,” adding that he was proud of how his players executed the game plan in his fifth World Cup as a coach.
England has never lost to an African nation at the World Cup in nine previous meetings, the AP data showed, while Ghana has not reached the knockout rounds since its quarterfinal appearance at the 2010 tournament in South Africa. In contrast, England advanced to the quarterfinals in 2022 before falling to France. The point gained by Ghana could prove crucial, as the format allows third-place teams a strong chance to progress if they accumulate sufficient points and goal difference, according to FIFA’s published tiebreaker criteria that begin with head-to-head results among tied teams.
England will face Panama next on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while Ghana meets Croatia simultaneously in Philadelphia, the Associated Press reported. The draw boosts both squads’ knockout hopes in what has become a competitive Group L that also includes Croatia and Panama. Additional reporting from Reuters indicated Queiroz viewed the match against England as one his team could target for a result through disciplined defending.
FIFA statistics place this as the largest World Cup ever with 48 participating nations, increasing the number of advancing teams to 32 from the group stage and providing more opportunities for competitive balance. The match in Foxborough drew attention for the tactical battle, with Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi and England’s Marc Guehi among those contesting aerial duels. Both coaches will now prepare for their final group fixtures with advancement largely in their own hands.
