Ghana seeks first win at World Cup against surprise contender Panama

Ghana begins its quest for a strong World Cup performance against a potentially surprising Panamanian side in their second Group L fixture.

Ghana has been a consistent presence in World Cup finals since 2006, only missing the 2018 tournament. The African nation has advanced from the group stage in two of its four appearances, reaching the Round of 16 in 2006 and the quarter-finals in 2010. That 2010 run is famously remembered for a Luis Suarez handball that denied Ghana a potential semi-final spot, with Asamoah Gyan missing the subsequent penalty.

Since their last successful tournament in 2010, Ghana's performance in continental championships has seen a decline. They reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 but have since struggled, failing to advance past the Round of 16 and not qualifying for the knockout stages of the last World Cup.

Panama is participating in its second World Cup. Their debut in 2018 saw them lose all three group matches. However, the team has shown significant progress since then. They were runners-up in the 2023 CONCACAF Championship, losing the final 1-0 to Mexico, and reached the quarter-finals of the 2024 Copa America after topping their group, which included the USA.

Further demonstrating their improved form, Panama defeated the USA 1-0 in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League last year, before a late penalty in the final saw them lose 2-1 to Mexico. This recent track record indicates Panama is a team capable of achieving strong results.