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Being the two lesser-fancied nations in Group L, Ghana and Panama will try to get off to a winning start in their opening World Cup game at BMO Field on Thursday morning.
Indeed, both nations are lower-ranked than England and Croatia in FIFA's official world rankings, and both of them have far more experience in reaching the knockouts at World Cups.
Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how Ghana and Panama match up in what will be their first-ever meeting.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Ghana vs. Panama key stats
- Ghana are winless in six games (D1, L5).
- Panama's only defeat in five matches was a 6-2 loss against Brazil (W2, D2).
- Ghana have won just one of their previous seven World Cup games (D1, L5).
Ghana vs. Panama preview: Black Stars to suffer again?
| Ghana | vs | Panama |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | FIFA Ranking | 34 |
| Jordan Ayew (120) | Most Caps | Anibal Godoy (159) |
| Jordan Ayew (34) | Most Goals | Jose Fajardo, Ismael Diaz (17) |
| 561 | Total Caps | 1541 |
| 67 | Total Goals | 126 |
| 1 | Uncapped Players | 0 |
Ghana are preparing for a fifth appearance at the World Cup finals, having topped their CAF qualifying group.
However, the Black Stars have struggled since then, having lost five of their last six friendlies in preparation for the tournament, drawing the other.
Their record at the World Cup has not been great in recent times either, having won just once in their previous seven outings (D1, L5).
Nonetheless, Carlos Queiroz is a highly-experienced manager that will try and get the best out of his squad, although Jerome Opoku is a fitness doubt having picked up a knock in Ghana's last outing against Wales, while key midfielder Thomas Partey has been refused entry into Canada and so will play no part.
Panama are entering just a second-ever World Cup finals after first qualifying in 2018, and incidentally have England in their group again.
The Three Lions will be favourites to win the group this time, and the Canal Men will have nightmares of their 6-1 defeat to what was then Gareth Southgate's side in 2018.
However, the CONCACAF nation, now ranked a respectable 34th in FIFA's world rankings, have improved drastically since then.
Thomas Christiansen's team were unbeaten in qualifying (W7, D3), and have lost just one of their previous five matches (W2, D2), while they will have also been boosted by the return of key trio Anibal Godoy, Luis Mejia and Adalberto Carrasquilla to training.
Ghana vs. Panama form guide & betting tips
| Ghana | vs | Panama |
|---|---|---|
LLLLD |
Form | DWLWD |
| 3 | Goals For | 10 |
| 11 | Goals Against | 11 |
N/A |
World Cup 2026 | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Ghana 1-1 Panama
Ghana are 5/4 (2.25) favourites to win, but given their poor form leading into the tournament, we are willing to back against the bookies.
Incidentally, a Panama victory and a stalemate have the same odds, but we are backing a Draw at 5/2 (3.50).
Our next pick is BTTS – Yes at 1/1 (2.00), having come through in Panama's last five games, and three of Ghana's previous four.
Finally, we would punt on the Correct score – 1-1 at 6/1 (7.00), which was the result in the friendlies both nations last played.
> BTTS – Yes at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Probable
> Draw at 5/2 (3.50) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score – 1-1 at 6/1 (7.00) | Likelihood: Outsider