Ghana will face Colombia in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the South American side finished at the top of Group K following the conclusion of the group stage.
Colombia secured first place with seven points after playing out a goalless draw against Portugal at the Hard Rock Stadium in their final group fixture. The result ensured they ended the group unbeaten and confirmed their place as Group K winners.
Portugal also advanced to the knockout rounds after finishing second on five points. The final qualification place from the group went to DR Congo, whose 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan saw them progress to the last 32.
The outcome means Ghana’s reward for reaching the knockout stage is a meeting with Colombia in one of the standout ties of the next round.
The Black Stars booked their place in the knockout phase after finishing third in Group L with four points. Their campaign included a victory over Panama, a draw against England and a narrow defeat by Croatia.
Those results were enough to keep Ghana’s World Cup hopes alive and set up a meeting with one of the tournament’s strongest performers from the group stage.
Colombia, managed by Carlos Queiroz, had already guaranteed qualification before taking to the field for their final group match against Portugal. The draw was sufficient to preserve their place at the top of the standings and complete their group campaign with seven points.
With the group phase now over, Queiroz’s side will switch their focus to the challenge posed by Ghana as both nations seek a place in the last 16.
The fixture is expected to be among the most eagerly anticipated contests of the Round of 32, with two teams that successfully negotiated difficult group-stage campaigns preparing to battle for a place in the next round.
For Ghana, the match offers the opportunity to continue their journey at the tournament after showing resilience across their three group matches. A win over Panama, a draw against England and a closely fought defeat to Croatia were enough to secure progression and keep their World Cup ambitions alive.
Colombia, meanwhile, arrive in the knockout stage as Group K winners after collecting seven points from their three matches. Their disciplined defensive display against Portugal ensured they remained at the summit of the standings, while Portugal also progressed and DR Congo claimed the group’s remaining qualification place.
The Round of 32 encounter between Ghana and Colombia will be played on Saturday, 4 July, at Arrowhead Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:30 a.m. GMT, with the winners advancing to the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
