Ghana coach Carlos Kirsch vows upset over England ahead of World Cup 2026 group clash

Ghana’s head coach Carlos Kirsch, a 69‑year‑old Portuguese who previously led Portugal and Iran, told reporters that England may wear three lions on its shirt, but Ghana “has 33 million lions”. He stressed that his side will rely on collective spirit and national will to challenge the tournament favourites.

Kirsch highlighted Ghana’s recent 1‑0 win over Panama and the need to secure points in the final group matches to reach the knockout stage. England, coming off a 4‑2 victory against Croatia that showcased offensive ambition but also defensive weaknesses, sit atop Group 12 on goal difference, while Ghana sit second with three points. The coach said Ghana will play to win, not settle for a draw, and that the encounter could become a memorable upset.

The comments came ahead of the Ghana‑England match in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, a fixture that could determine which team advances to the round of 32.