Changes in 2026 FIFA World Cup venues: Black Stars play Panama in first game in Toronto

By: Bernard Nyankomago Kwasi

The world’s football governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), has confirmed that the Black Stars of Ghana will open their Group L fixture against Panama in Toronto, Canada on 17th June, 2026.

After the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington DC on December 5, 2025, it came out that Coach Otto Addo and his gallant Black Stars will lock horns with Panama in their first game at Dalas, USA.

But it has been established that Ghana will rather set the ball rolling in the largest and populous city in Canada. It is a home game for the Black Stars.

From Canada, skipper Jordan Ayew and his colleagues will travel to Boston, USA to battle Coach Thomas Tuchel and his Three Lions of England on June 23, 2026. Captain Harry Kane and his England side will be the homesters.

The last Group L fixture will see the Black Stars coming face to face with Luca Modric’s Croatian side on June 27, 2026.

It will be a dicey away game for the Black Stars because Croatia have shown great consistent performance in the last two FIFA World Cup competitions.

In 2018 in Russia, Croatia proved beyond reasonable doubt to reach the final but painfully lost to France.

Having finished as runners up in 2018, they returned strongly four years later to clinch bronze medals beating African giants, Morocco 2-1 at the 3rd/4th place in Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.