Ghanaian football icon and businessman Asamoah Gyan has shared his thoughts on Ghana’s placement in Group L, where the Black Stars will face England, Croatia, and Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking in an interview at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, during the live final draw, Gyan was asked whether Ghana could realistically advance from such a competitive group into the knockout stage.

While acknowledging the challenge, Gyan exuded calm confidence, insisting the Black Stars had what it took to push through.

He also highlighted the unwavering support Ghanaians continued to show their senior national team, emphasising how crucial that backing will be in the journey ahead.

“It’s a very tricky group, and all four teams want to qualify,” the former captain said. “But we’re optimistic back home; everyone wants Ghana to go through, so we’ll do our possible best to qualify for the next stage.”

During the conversation, the interviewer, actor and producer Danny Ramirez, boldly suggested that Ghana would beat England. The comment sparked light-hearted banter, with English legend Rio Ferdinand playfully pretending to take offense, joking that he would fight Ramirez backstage to settle the matter.

Ghana’s best World Cup run came in 2010, when the Black Stars came agonizingly close to becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals. In that dramatic quarter-final against Uruguay, Luis Suárez blocked a certain goal with his hand, resulting in a penalty that Asamoah Gyan struck against the crossbar — an unforgettable heartbreak in Ghanaian football history.

It was not until Qatar 2022 that Africa finally broke the semi-final barrier, with Morocco making history after defeating Spain and Portugal to secure a place among the final four.

The 2026 World Cup opens on June 11 with Mexico vs South Africa, while Ghana will kick-start their campaign with a matchup against Panama.