World Cup 2026: Waiting for the 'curse of the second match' to come true

The match against England at 3:00 AM on June 24 (Vietnam time) is not only crucial for Ghana's chances of advancing in the 2026 World Cup, but also an opportunity for the African side to extend an impressive unbeaten streak that has lasted nearly 20 years.

According to a TTXVN correspondent in West Africa, many Ghanaian fans believe the national team has what it takes to spring a surprise on England, based on their unbeaten record in second group-stage matches across all World Cups they have participated in.

In their World Cup debut in 2006, Ghana defeated the Czech Republic 2-0. At the 2010 World Cup, they drew 1-1 with Australia before reaching the quarterfinals. Four years later in Brazil, the African side held Germany to a 2-2 draw. Most recently, Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 at the 2022 World Cup.

Henry Djangmah, a 50-year-old fan, shared: "My intuition tells me that Ghana will either beat England or at least get a draw, because the team has never lost a second group-stage match at the World Cup."

The 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening match further spread an optimistic atmosphere among Ghanaian fans. Supporter Christian Frimpong commented: "Even though we don't have a star-studded lineup like England, I believe the Ghanaian players are very hungry for success, and that is what will make the difference against England."

For their part, the Ghana team remains cautious. Captain Jordan Ayew stressed that the squad is only focused on the immediate task rather than thinking too far ahead. Ayew said: "We have two very important games left. Our goal is to get three points in the next match, and then we'll think about other scenarios. The World Cup is always a tough competition, and no opponent is easy, but we believe in our abilities."

The last time Ghana and England met was in a friendly at Wembley Stadium (England) in March 2011, ending in a 1-1 draw. A victory over England this time would bring Ghana very close to a spot in the knockout stage. And simply by avoiding defeat, the "Black Stars" would maintain their unbeaten record in second group-stage matches at the World Cup.