Former Ghana midfielder Derek Boateng has claimed that England are wary of facing the Black Stars at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the Three Lions will not find the matchup easy.

Boateng, who featured at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, shared his views in an interview with Sporty FM, expressing confidence in Ghana’s ability to challenge Thomas Tuchel’s side.

“England is not tough for us. England is afraid of us,” Boateng said.

Ghana’s Group L Fixtures


  • June 17 – vs Panama (Toronto, Canada)

  • June 23 – vs England (Boston, USA)

  • June 27 – vs Croatia (Philadelphia, USA)

Boateng’s Key Points



    • On England: Believes the Three Lions are uneasy about facing Ghana, citing the Black Stars’ resilience.

    • On Panama: Urged caution, stressing the importance of a winning start.

“The team we have to look at more is Panama, and I feel like we have to make sure we win that game.”

  • On Ghana’s ambitions: After group-stage exits in Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022, Boateng emphasized the need for Ghana to progress further at the expanded 48-team finals.

Boateng’s remarks reflect both confidence and pragmatism: while Ghana’s clash with England will draw global attention, the opening fixture against Panama could prove decisive in shaping the Black Stars’ campaign. Securing early points may be the key to avoiding another group-stage disappointment and reigniting memories of Ghana’s famous 2010 quarter-final run.