2026 World Cup: Ghana v England will be a very good game, says Asamoah Gyan

Asamoah Gyan says he expects a very good encounter between Ghana and England ahead of the 2026 World Cup this summer.

The four-time African champions have been housed in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia.

Ghana will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23. They will wrap up their group stage fixtures against Croatia on June 27.

Speaking in New York during the unveiling of Ghana’s World Cup jersey by PUMA, Gyan, who played at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups in Germany, South Africa and Brazil, respectively, acknowledged England’s strength but remains confident that Ghana will make it to the next round of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.

"We are playing against England, we are in the same group. You know, on paper, England, of course, is one of the best in the world right now," Gyan, who remains the country's all-time leading goalscorer, said.

"You know, but people are optimistic about that game. To play against England. I'm not thinking about playing England; I just want Ghana to qualify from the group stage to go to the next stage of the competition, so we'll see what happens. But Ghana against England is going to be a very, very good game," he added.

The former Black Stars captain has fond memories against England, having scored a late equaliser in a 1-1 international friendly draw in 2011 after Andy Carroll had given the Three Lions the lead.

As part of preparations for the tournament, the Black Stars are scheduled to engage in two high-profile friendlies, taking on Austria in Vienna on March 27, before travelling to Stuttgart to face Germany on March 30.