Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz said his side fulfilled its primary objective after securing a goalless draw against England in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, praising his players for their discipline, commitment and adherence to the team’s tactical plan.
The result at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts leaves Ghana and England level on four points at the top of the group heading into the final round of fixtures, with both sides maintaining strong hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
Having opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama, the Black Stars produced another resilient performance to earn a valuable point against one of the tournament favourites. Although England controlled possession for extended periods, Ghana’s organised defensive structure proved difficult to break down.
Speaking after the match, Queiroz expressed satisfaction with both the result and the manner in which his team executed its game plan.
“The first goal is achieved, and we qualified for the second round,” the former Egypt and Iran coach said after the game.
“I am so proud of the way our players fought during the game and how much they stand behind the game plan. They always believed.”
The Portuguese coach highlighted the determination shown by his players throughout a contest in which they spent long periods defending against England’s attacking pressure.
While pleased with Ghana’s display, Queiroz also paid tribute to the quality of the opposition, suggesting England possesses the attributes required to challenge for the biggest prize in international football.
“My humble opinion is that England can be a candidate to win the World Cup. It is a gift for our fans. It is a gift for some of the players we lost.”
England’s dominance of possession forced Ghana to adopt a pragmatic approach, and Queiroz explained that his side’s tactics were dictated by the strengths of their opponents.
“That’s the way to win when you have to defend, you defend. I cannot play samba when they play rock and roll.”
The coach revealed that frustrating England was a central part of Ghana’s strategy and believed his side successfully achieved that objective during the first half.
“The goal was to finish the first half with the England team frustrated and no solution to beat us. That was when we started to grow up and control the game. We could score, but unfortunately, we didn’t do it. I think England could score, so a draw was a fair result.”
His assessment reflected the balance of the contest, with both teams creating opportunities but neither able to find the breakthrough.
Queiroz acknowledged that Ghana had chances to secure all three points but accepted that England also threatened at times, making the stalemate a fair outcome overall.
“We could score, but unfortunately, we didnt do it. I think England could score, so a draw was a fair result,” he said.
Despite the positive performance, the coach insisted that qualification remains more important than entertaining displays or individual results.
“Happiness. Win is happiness, but in this moment, the win is nothing. We reached the second stage, which was the goal.”
The draw leaves Ghana in a strong position ahead of its final Group L fixture against Croatia. A positive result in that encounter could secure the Black Stars’ place in the knockout rounds.
England, meanwhile, will conclude their group campaign against Panama as they seek to confirm their progression and potentially finish top of the group.
For Ghana, the point earned against England represents another important step in their World Cup journey, with Queiroz satisfied that his side remained committed to the tactical discipline that has helped them collect four points from their opening two matches.
