Ghana faces Croatia in its final Group L match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday, June 27, 2026, aiming to overcome a historical pattern of closing group-stage defeats.
The Black Stars have already secured qualification for the knockout stage but carry a record of one win and three losses in their final group matches across past World Cups.
Defensive Record
Ghana enters the match as one of only four teams, alongside Argentina, Spain, and Mexico, yet to concede a goal after two group matches.
This follows a 1-0 victory over Panama and a 0-0 draw against England.
Historical data reveals that African nations collectively conceded 16 goals across past World Cup group stages, making the current defensive records unprecedented as the tournament expands to 48 teams across North America.
Previous Group Stage Finales
Ghana previously suffered final group-stage defeats against Germany in 2010, Portugal in 2014, and Uruguay in 2022.
Their only tournament expansion occurred under coach Carlos Queiroz, who selected a 26-man roster featuring five goalkeepers.
The match between Croatia and Ghana is scheduled for June 27 at 5 p. m.
Eastern Time, concluding the group phase for the African nation which has historically progressed past the group stage only twice, in 2006 and 2010.
