Ghana starting lineup vs Panama confirmed as Thomas Partey not in squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 match
(Courtesy : Getty)
The Black Stars face Panama in their World Cup opener tonight in Toronto.
Ghana begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a Group L clash against Panama at BMO Field on June 17. Following the ignominy of failing to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, the Black Stars will look to bounce back with a deep run at the expanded 48-team iteration of the biggest football tournament.
They sailed through the CAF qualifiers, topping their group with eight wins from 10 matches. However, head coach Otto Addo was sacked after a run of four consecutive losses in warm-up friendlies, and Carlos Queiroz was handed the reins.
However, the Portuguese tactician has failed to steady the results, with the African giants entering tonight’s match off the back of a seven-game winless run. They will face a tough test against a Panama side sitting 39 spots above them in the FIFA men’s rankings.
Also Read: Ghana vs Panama: Five key battles to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026
Let’s look at the Ghana confirmed lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Panama:
Ghana (4-2-3-1): Lawrence Ait-Zigi; Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku, Gideon Mensah; Caleb Yirenkyi, Elisha Owusu; Ernest Nuamah, Jordan Ayew (c), Kamaldeen Sulemana; Antoine Semenyo.
Substitutes: Joseph Anang (gk), Benjamin Asare (gk), Prince Adu, Abdul Rahman Baba, Augustine Boakye, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Issahaku Fatwau, Derrick Luckassen, Abdul Mumin, Kojo Peprah, Alidu Seidu, Kwasi Sibo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Inaki Williams.
Thoughts on the lineup
The Black Stars will be without key midfielder Thomas Partey for their opening game. The Villarreal player was denied a visa by the Canadian authorities, possibly due to his pending rape trial in London. As a result, Elisha Owusu has been paired with Nordsjaelland youngster Caleb Yirenkyi in the middle of the park.
Leicester City veteran Jordan Ayew starts in the number 10 position, having scored seven goals in the qualifiers. Atalanta winger Kamaldeen Sulemana starts on the left flank, joined by Lille youngster Ernest Nuamah. Surprisingly, former Spain international Inaki Williams was left on the bench.
Manchester City star Antoine Semenyo, who finished last season with 27 goal contributions across all competitions, leads the line for the African giants.
Jerome Opoku and Wolfsburg youngster Jonas Adjetey are the starting centre-backs. Auxerre teammates Gideon Mensah and Marvin Senaya start in the full-back positions. This four-man defence will protect the goal of Lawrence Ait-Zigi, who starts between the sticks.
When is Ghana vs Panama FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
The Group L clash is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. In India, the match will kick off at 4:30 AM IST on June 18.
Where to watch Ghana vs Panama match in India?
Fans in India can watch the game live on Zee5 (premium subscription required) or on Unite8 Sports TV channels.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.