Ghana will look to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey alive when they face Colombia in the Round of 32 on Friday night in Kansas City.
With a place in the Round of 16 on the line, the Black Stars must overcome one of South America’s strongest sides in what promises to be a fiercely contested knockout encounter.
After successfully progressing from a challenging Group L that included England, Croatia and Panama, Ghana now faces its biggest test of the tournament.
READ ALSO: 10 football stars who may be playing their last World Cup
Ghana’s Road to the Knockout Stage
The Black Stars reached the Round of 32 after collecting four points from three group matches. Carlos Queiroz’s side began the tournament with a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama before earning a valuable goalless draw against England. Their only setback came in a closely fought 2-1 defeat to Croatia.
Caleb Yirenkyi and Derrick Luckassen have found the net for Ghana during the group stage, while the team has conceded only two goals, highlighting its defensive organisation.
Following the impressive performance against England, Queiroz is expected to make only minimal changes to the team for the crucial encounter with Colombia.
Predicted Ghana Line-up vs Colombia
Goalkeeper: Benjamin Asare
Benjamin Asare is tipped to remain Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper despite Lawrence Ati-Zigi recovering from injury.
The Hearts of Oak goalkeeper has taken his opportunity with both hands since replacing Ati-Zigi, producing several outstanding saves throughout the tournament.
READ ALSO: Benjamin Asare and 4 other goalkeepers delivering at the World Cup
His excellent display against England played a major role in Ghana securing the point that helped seal qualification for the knockout stage.
Given his recent performances and growing confidence, Queiroz is expected to retain him in goal against Colombia.
Defence: Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku, Gideon Mensah
Ghana’s backline has shown consistency throughout the group phase and is expected to remain unchanged.
Jonas Adjetey and Jerome Opoku are likely to continue as the central defensive pairing after delivering composed performances in all three matches. Gideon Mensah is expected to keep his place at left-back, while Marvin Senaya should continue at right-back.
The defensive unit will have the difficult task of limiting Colombia’s attacking threats while maintaining the discipline that has been one of Ghana’s strengths so far.
Midfield: Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Caleb Yirenkyi
Carlos Queiroz is expected to stick with the midfield trio that performed well against England.
Thomas Partey should anchor the midfield, controlling possession and setting the tempo from deep. Kwasi Sibo is expected to provide defensive protection and cover in front of the defence, while Caleb Yirenkyi will likely play a more advanced role, helping connect midfield with the attack.
READ ALSO: African Countries that have qualified for the Knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The trio will need to strike the right balance between defensive solidity and creativity if Ghana hopes to match Colombia’s technically gifted midfield.
Attack: Ernest Nuamah, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo
With a quarter-final berth at stake, Ghana is expected to approach the game positively in attack.
Ernest Nuamah is likely to feature on the right wing, where his pace and ability to take on defenders could cause problems. Antoine Semenyo is expected to operate from the left, offering strength, direct running and attacking intensity.
Captain Jordan Ayew is tipped to lead the attack as the central striker, with his experience and composure expected to play a key role in one of Ghana’s biggest matches of the tournament.
Predicted Ghana XI
Goalkeeper: Benjamin Asare
Defenders: Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjetey, Jerome Opoku, Gideon Mensah
Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Caleb Yirenkyi
Forwards: Ernest Nuamah, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo
A victory over Colombia would see Ghana advance to the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since the country’s memorable run at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, adding another landmark achievement to the Black Stars’ World Cup history.