World Cup 2026: England 0-0 Ghana - Harry Kane goes closest late on as Three Lions frustrated in Boston
Match report as England are frustrated by the second-lowest-ranked team at World Cup 2026 and held to a draw in their second group game for the fourth successive tournament; Harry Kane should win game for Three Lions late on after Ezri Konsa is fortunate not to concede penalty
Wednesday 24 June 2026 02:35, UK
England's difficult second game afflicted them for a fourth successive tournament as Ghana frustrated Thomas Tuchel's side to a 0-0 draw in Boston to leave their hopes of topping Group L in the balance.
Just as in their second group fixture against Scotland in 2021, the USA in 2022 and Denmark in 2024, England struggled to impose themselves on the game, albeit against an opponent by far the most defensive of the four - and one more than happy to frustrate and earn a point which all-but secures their own progression to the last 32.
England, with four points secured from two games, have all but secured passage through but still have work to do to claim top spot in Group L.
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- As it happened | Teams | Stats | Group L guide
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England completed 190 passes more than their opponents in the opening 35 minutes, but it took until then to fashion their one and only clear chance of the first half when Declan Rice nodded over after Noni Madueke had isolated his full-back in a rare sign of intent.
The nation hoped for a repeat of Tuchel's inspirational half-time team-talk which galvanised his side six days earlier against Croatia, but it was more of the same after the break this time and it took another 11 minutes for Anthony Gordon to finally register England's first shot on target with a tame effort straight at Benjamin Asare.
Ghana's valuable point threatened to become three when substitute Prince Adu was played in behind and seemingly caught by a wayward Ezri Konsa slide, which inexplicably was waved away both by the on-field officials and VAR.
"England were in an attacking position but found themselves four on four," said Sky Sports' Micah Richards on BBC Sport. "They've got to sort it out - yes, they're chasing the game, but you still need that protection behind you.
"On another day, that could've been a penalty."
Ghana boss Carlos Queiroz was less diplomatic in his assessment, questioning whether VAR had been operational at the time of the incident. "It's another penalty they need to give to Ghana, a clear penalty against England," he said.
Harry Kane should have won it with three minutes to go when Nico O'Reilly's header crashed back off the crossbar but the England captain - surely the one player in world football anyone would have wanted the ball to fall to - skied the rebound over with the goal gaping.
"I was waiting for the ball to bounce and it did but I couldn't get over it," he told BBC Sport. "It is what it is. I've been a striker long enough to know they don't always go in."
The captain's glaring miss left the Three Lions, who had 80% of possession, with questions to answer about their lack of intensity, and facing a reality check after the jubilation of their second-half performance against Croatia - but with progression still in their own hands in Saturday's final group game with already-eliminated Panama.
The key moments from Boston...
- 37: OVER! Rice finally wakes England fans up when heading over a presentable chance from Madueke's cross
- 50: CLOSE! Ghana give England a heart-in-mouth moment as Senaya beats Gordon to the ball but his pull-back flashes across goal and misses Williams' run at the back post
- 57: NEARLY! England finally fashion a shot on target as Madueke's shot deflects to Gordon, who fires straight at Asare.
- 64: OVER! Madueke should test Asare when a half-cleared free-kick lands at his feet but the unmarked winger fires over.
- 79: NO PENALTY! Fatawu bounces Eze off the ball and finds Adu, who skips forward and races into the box. He is seemingly caught by Konsa in the area before his shot hits Semenyo - who is offside.
- 86: CHANCE! Four minutes from time, Asare has some work to do as Saka's snap shot is turned away by the restored Ghana goalkeeper.
- 87: HUGE MISS! O'Reilly heads a cross against the crossbar with the loose ball falling to Harry Kane - who somehow blazes over with the goal gaping.
- 90+3: OFF THE LINE! Guehi turns an Eze cross home but sees his header cleared off the line with seconds ticking away.
Tuchel: I saw this performance coming
England head coach Thomas Tuchel on BBC Sport:
"Not frustrated. I saw it coming as I knew this would be a difficult game.
"Ghana are physical and so committed. Full credit to them. They were difficult to break down.
"You need to be patient but at the right moments be brave. We conceded only two dangerous chances.
"At the end of the halves we grew into it and found rhythm but, of course, fatigue crept in. I liked the attitude, but you need a bit of luck.
"We had enough shots and cross and a big chance with Harry Kane. It is what it is."
Queiroz: Is VAR still working at the World Cup?
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz:
"Is VAR still working in the World Cup? We still have VAR? I have some doubts about that, because another penalty that they need to give to Ghana, a clear penalty against England.
"with our opportunity in the second half, I think at the end different profiles, but we deserve the draw. A draw was the fair result for both teams."
Merson: That performance needed Palmer or Foden
Sky Sports' Paul Merson on Sky Sports News:
"It's back to reality. You can't score four in every game, but you'd expect to break them down in the end.
"They defended really well but we made it easier for them to do so.
"That's something for Tuchel to look at, but you're not winning the World Cup in the second game of the tournament.
"It's better to have those reality checks earlier in the tournament than later on.
"You've got to have movement. The only thing that beats a defence is movement.
"A run off the ball, a winger running across the line - but credit where it's due, Ghana defended amazingly.
"We've got to have more belief. But we didn't take enough chances, and I thought this team was picked to have no fear.
"Tonight you're looking at Palmer and Foden - and that shouldn't be the case."
Bellingham: Another case of England's second-game fever
Player of the match Jude Bellingham on BBC Sport:
"I didn't deserve it, to be honest. It should have gone to one of their lads who defended so well.
"I had a couple of moments, it was hard to get into the game and I'm grateful for whoever voted but it should've gone to one of their lads.
"Like always, it's second-game fever with England. Win the first one, do well and draw the second.
"It's okay though, they played for a draw that would've seen them go through and fair play to them."
