The Black Stars have already secured a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but their Round of 32 opponent will only be confirmed after the final round of Group L matches.
Ghana’s qualification was sealed before their last group game after results elsewhere guaranteed that four points would be enough to progress under FIFA’s expanded 48-team tournament format.
With a place in the next round already secured, Carlos Queiroz’s men now turn their attention to finishing as high as possible in Group L when they face Croatia. Their final group position will determine both the venue and the identity of their next opponents.
One of the strongest possibilities is a showdown with either Portugal or Colombia.
Should Ghana finish second in the group, they will face the runners-up from Group K in Toronto. Portugal and Colombia are battling for that position, with their head-to-head meeting set to decide the standings.
A third-place finish, provided Ghana advance as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams, would instead see the Black Stars take on the winners of Group K in Kansas City. That scenario also points to either Portugal or Colombia.
However, Ghana could also be on course for an all-African encounter.
If the Black Stars end the group stage as winners of Group L, they will be paired with one of the best third-placed teams from Groups I, J or K in Atlanta. That opens the door to a clash with fellow African nations such as Senegal, Algeria or DR Congo, depending on how those groups conclude. Portugal could also surprisingly fall into that category if results go against them.
An all-African knockout tie would guarantee at least one representative from the continent a place in the Round of 16 while adding another memorable chapter to African football’s growing presence on the world stage.
Before looking ahead to any of those possibilities, Ghana must first complete their Group L campaign against Croatia in Philadelphia. Although qualification is already in the bag, a positive result could hand the Black Stars a more favourable route through the knockout rounds as they continue their World Cup journey.
