FIFA WC 2026: Yirenkyi's 95th-min goal sends Ghana past Panama 1-0
Synopsis
Caleb Yirenkyi's stoppage-time tap-in broke Panamanian hearts and gave Ghana all three points in a tense Group L opener in Toronto. The goal also capped a historic night for coach Carlos Queiroz, who became only the second manager ever to take charge at five consecutive World Cups — equalling Bora Milutinovic's record.
Key Takeaways
Caleb Yirenkyi scored his first international goal in the 95th minute to hand Ghana a 1-0 win over Panama .
The match was played at Toronto Stadium on 18 June 2026 in the FIFA World Cup Group L .
Goalkeeper Benjamin Asare and a Jiovany Ramos goal-line clearance kept Ghana level before the late winner.
Substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante provided the decisive assist, driving in from the left before squaring for Yirenkyi.
Coach Carlos Queiroz became only the second manager to take charge at five successive World Cups , equalling Bora Milutinovic's record.
Panama remain without a single point in their World Cup history.
Caleb Yirenkyi struck in the 95th minute to hand Ghana a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L opener at Toronto Stadium on Thursday, 18 June. The late winner denied Panama a first-ever World Cup point and gave the Black Stars a flying start to the tournament.
How the Match Unfolded
Panama were the sharper side in the opening exchanges. Amir Murillo's low cross picked out Cecilio Waterman inside the box, but Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare produced a fine diving save to keep the scores level. Moments later, a poor Asare punch fell to Jiovany Ramos, who blazed his effort over with time to spare.
Ghana's goal continued to live a charmed life in the second half. Cristian Martinez collected a loose ball in the area, used a clever shimmy to create space, but saw his shot flash into the side netting.
Queiroz's Double Change Nearly Pays Off
Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz introduced a double substitution just before the hour mark. Substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante immediately threatened, darting down the right flank and sliding the ball across for Jordan Ayew — only for Ramos to produce a goal-saving challenge to keep Panama level.
Both sides appeared content to share the spoils until Thomas-Asante broke free down the left, drove into the penalty area, and squared for Yirenkyi to tap home his first international goal deep into stoppage time, sealing all three points for Ghana.
Queiroz Makes World Cup History
The result also carried a historic footnote. Queiroz, who managed Portugal at South Africa 2010, Iran at Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022, becomes only the second coach to take charge at five successive World Cups — equalling the record set by Bora Milutinovic. His longevity at the tournament's highest stage adds a layer of intrigue to Ghana's campaign.
What This Means for Group L
The victory puts Ghana at the top of Group L with three points, while Panama remain without a World Cup point in their history. The narrow margin underlines how tight the group stage is likely to be, with both sides showing enough quality to trouble opponents. Ghana will look to build on this result in their next fixture, while Panama must regroup quickly to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Point of View
And Ghana have banked it. The bigger story, however, is Queiroz: a coach who has now navigated five different national teams through World Cup qualification and group-stage pressure is an outlier in modern football, where coaching tenures are increasingly short. Whether his pragmatic, counter-punch style can take Ghana beyond the group stage will be the real test of his record-equalling run.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored Ghana's winning goal against Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Caleb Yirenkyi scored Ghana's winner, tapping home in the 95th minute after a square pass from substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante. It was Yirenkyi's first international goal.
What is the significance of Carlos Queiroz coaching at five successive World Cups?
Queiroz became only the second coach in history to manage at five consecutive World Cups, equalling the record of Bora Milutinovic. He previously led Portugal at South Africa 2010, Iran at Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022, and now coaches Ghana at the 2026 edition.
Did Panama score any points in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L opener?
No. Panama were defeated 1-0 by Ghana and remain without a World Cup point in their history. A late goal-saving challenge by Jiovany Ramos had kept them level before Yirenkyi's winner.
Where was the Ghana vs Panama FIFA World Cup 2026 match played?
The Group L clash was played at Toronto Stadium in Toronto, Canada, on 18 June 2026.
How did Ghana's goalkeeper Benjamin Asare perform against Panama?
Asare made a fine diving save to deny Cecilio Waterman early on, though a poor punch from him also created a chance for Panama. He was kept busy throughout but ultimately ended on the winning side.
