Ghana have climbed eight places in FIFA’s live world rankings following their dramatic victory over Panama in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars moved from 73rd to 65th in the latest live rankings after securing a hard-fought 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto on June 17. The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time when Caleb Yirenkyi found the back of the net to hand Ghana all three points.
The result has provided a significant boost to Ghana’s ranking position, largely because Panama entered the tournament ranked 34th in the world. Defeating a higher-ranked opponent earned the Black Stars valuable ranking points and propelled them up the standings.
Ghana are competing in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama. Carlos Queiroz’s men currently sit on three points after their opening fixture and will turn their attention to a crucial clash against England on June 23 as they continue their quest for a place in the knockout stages.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams. Under the expanded format, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, together with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 32.
With an important victory already secured and their world ranking on the rise, the Black Stars will be hoping to build momentum as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
