Ghana snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening Group L fixture of the 2026 World Cup, courtesy of a 95th-minute winner from Caleb Yirenkyi at the Toronto Stadium. In a cagey encounter played under heavy rain, the four-time African champions appeared destined to share the spoils with the Central Americans until a sweeping counter-attack in the final moments of stoppage time secured maximum points. The last-gasp heartbreak denies Panama their first-ever point at a World Cup finals, leaving them empty-handed after matching their more experienced opponents for much of the contest.

The decisive breakthrough arrived with mere seconds remaining on the clock when Brandon Thomas-Asante drove into the penalty area down the left flank and squared a precise pass for Yirenkyi to easily tap into the net. The frantic climax contrasted sharply with a subdued first half where Ghana failed to register a single shot. Panama looked the superior side before the interval, nearly taking the lead in the second minute when Cecilio Waterman forced an acrobatic save from Ghanaian goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, but clear-cut scoring opportunities remained scarce until the dying moments.

Ghana was forced into a crucial substitution at half-time after Ati-Zigi suffered an injury following a heavy collision, resulting in Benjamin Asare taking over goalkeeping duties for the second period. The Black Stars were already navigating the fixture without key midfielder Thomas Partey, who was denied entry into Canada due to ongoing legal proceedings in the United Kingdom. Following the chaotic finale, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz admitted his side was “naive and not aggressive” in the first half, whilst Panama boss Thomas Christiansen lamented a “painful” defeat, noting that mistakes are heavily punished on the global stage.

The dramatic stoppage-time triumph ensures Ghana joins England at the summit of Group L, following the Three Lions’ 4-2 victory over Croatia earlier in the day. The result sets up a crucial top-of-the-table clash for Queiroz’s squad, who will travel to Massachusetts to face group favourites England on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Panama will remain in Toronto to face 2018 finalists Croatia, with Christiansen’s side urgently needing a positive result to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive in just their second World Cup appearance.