England can book their place in the World Cup knockout stages on Tuesday as they take on a Ghana side also aiming to secure qualification from Group L with a game to spare.
England vs GhanaSee All Odds
Get yourself ready for the 2026 World Cup with dozens of great sign-up offers on Oddschecker's World Cup Free Bets page.
England have the chance to secure their place in the World Cup knockout stages with a game to spare when they face Ghana in Foxborough on Tuesday evening. Thomas Tuchel's side made an eye-catching start to their campaign, overcoming Croatia 4-2 in a thrilling contest that showcased both their attacking firepower and lingering defensive concerns.
Ghana also opened with three points, needing a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Caleb Yirenkyi to edge past Panama and move within touching distance of the last 32. While the Black Stars arrive full of belief, they now face a far sterner examination against one of the tournament favourites. Victory for either side would guarantee progression and put them firmly in control of Group L.
England vs Ghana Best Bet
Recommended Bet: Harry Kane Anytime Goalscorer
Best Odds: 3/4 (bet365)
Advised Stake: 1.5pts
England arrived in Foxborough on the back of a dominant attacking display against Croatia, where Kane bagged a first-half brace and the team smashed a World Cup record with 20 shots inside the opposition box.
That performance showed Tuchel’s side are clicking in the final third, and Kane remains the focal point of everything they do going forward.
The bigger story, though, is the personal milestone on the line. Kane is already England’s all-time leading scorer overall, but he sits just one goal shy of Gary Lineker’s record for most goals at a World Cup. Breaking that mark against Ghana would be a huge moment for him personally, and history shows the England captain thrives when there’s something tangible to chase.
Ghana, for all their resilience in grinding out a late 1-0 win over Panama, offered almost nothing in open play until stoppage time. They managed just 0.97 xG across the whole game and failed to register a single shot in the first half.
Against an England side that will enjoy far more possession and territory than Croatia did, their backline is likely to be stretched repeatedly. Kane has already shown he can punish teams that sit deeper or leave gaps - exactly the profile Ghana are expected to present.
Even with the minor niggle he picked up against Croatia, Kane trained fully and is expected to start. At this stage of a tournament, with England needing just a point to guarantee knockout progression, Tuchel has every incentive to keep his main goal threat on the pitch for as long as possible.England are overwhelming favourites here, and when they dominate matches like this, Kane is almost always involved in the goals.
Who is the favourite to win England vs Ghana?
England are firm favourites to make it two wins from two at the 2026 World Cup, with the Three Lions priced at 3/13 to beat Ghana after an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opener. Thomas Tuchel's side created chances at will against top-level opposition and have now won three straight matches while scoring at least three goals in each.
Ghana opened with a 1-0 win over Panama, but required a stoppage-time winner and managed little attacking threat for large periods.
With Harry Kane chasing another World Cup record and England boasting one of the tournament's most potent attacks, the 15/1 (AKbets) Black Stars face a daunting task, while the draw is available at 6/1 (bet365).
Hot Streak
England vs Ghana Bet Builder Tip
- Jude Bellingham to Score or Assist
- Nico O'Reilly 1+ Shot on Target
- Nico OReilly Over 0.5 Fouls Won
- Reece James Over 0.5 Shots
Best price 7/1 with Sky Bet at the time of publishing.
Jude Bellingham to Score or Assist
Jude Bellingham was in flying form against Croatia in the opener and has a goal to show for it.
Operating as the central creative hub in Tuchel’s 4-2-3-1, linking midfield to Kane, Bellingham always finds himself in positions to influence in the final third and with Rice's forward runs, Kane coming deep and the flying wingers, this Ghana side won't be able to contain England's midfield.
3 shots,1 shooting chance created, and 0.48 xG+xA against Croatia - Bellingham was amongst the action and against a Ghana side that should struggle, England could bag a few goals here. It woulnd't surprise me if Bellingham is involved in at least one.
Nico O'Reilly 1+ Shot on Target
The Premier league Young Player of the Year really could have scored against Croatia, with a close range header stopped by the keeper.
Nonetheless it confirmed the suspicions of many that O'Reilly's role at left back was going to be as much attacking as it is defending.
He attempted the most dribbles of any player on the pitch (3) and had the most successful dribbles of anyone on the pitch (3).
He scored eight goals for Man City last season and attempted 23 shots in his final 10 Premier League games.
His two shots (1 on target) against Croatia continued that trend for country and against underdogs Ghana, you would expect the young full back to get forward.
Nico O'Reilly 1+ Fouls Won
As mentioned above Nico O'Reilly should have the licence to get forward in this game and having drawn a foul and completed 3 dribbles in the opener vs Croatia, the fouls won market is of interest.
He will be up against either Seidu, who averaged 1.91 fouls per 90 minutes across his last 13 starts for Stade Reims, or Senaya, who committed a foul against Panama in Ghana's opener and has been whistled for at least one foul in 16 of his last 20 starts for club and country.
He drew 3 fouls in the warm up game against Costa Rica.
Reece James 1+ Shot
Reece James may find himself on free-kick duty around the edge of the box, and with England expected to dominate possession in Ghana’s half and face a deep defensive block, there is a strong chance one of England’s attacking players will be fouled within shooting range. That scenario played out against Croatia, and, providing he hasn’t lost Thomas Tuchel’s trust after a poor attempt, it could easily happen again here.
He has registered at least one shot in five of his last eight England appearances, and there is also scope for him to test the goalkeeper from open play, with the full-backs likely given licence to push forward in this matchup.
England vs Ghana Player Prop Bet
Recommended Bet: Declan Rice To Score or Assist vs Ghana
Best Odds: 8/5
Advised Stake: 0.75pts
Declan Rice is an interesting goal-involvement angle against Ghana, with England’s set-piece threat giving him a clearer route to an assist than his deeper midfield role might initially suggest.
He assisted Harry Kane from a corner against Croatia, and England have looked particularly dangerous from Rice’s dead-ball deliveries in the opening game of the tournament. There is also a recent scoring angle, with Rice finding the net in England’s final warm-up match against Costa Rica.
With a goal or assist in four of his last five England starts when playing 70 minutes or more, the 6/4 available including the Super Sub feature looks a fair price for a player who can contribute through set pieces, long-range shooting and late arrivals around the box.
England vs Ghana Predicted Lineups
England predicted lineup: Jordan Pickford; Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, Reece James; Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice; Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka; Harry Kane.
Ghana predicted lineup: Benjamin Asare; Alidu Seidu, Kojo Peprah Oppong, Jonas Adjetey, Gideon Mensah; Elisha Owusu, Thomas Partey; Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo; Iñaki Williams.
England vs Ghana Match Prediction
England made a powerful start to Group L, beating Croatia 4-2 thanks to goals from Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford, but Tuchel will want a more composed defensive display against a Ghana side with real counter-attacking pace.
Ghana also opened with three points, edging Panama 1-0 in stoppage time, but they had to be patient and were not always fluent in attack. With both teams on three points, this match could go a long way to deciding the group, and England can take a major step towards top spot if they win and Croatia prevent Panama from taking maximum points.
The Black Stars have enough quality through Semenyo, Fatawu, Ayew and Williams to cause problems in transition, but England’s depth and attacking firepower should give them the edge. The only previous senior meeting between the countries ended 1-1 at Wembley in 2011, but this looks like a tougher assignment for Ghana.
Prediction: England 2-0 Ghana
