Ghana vs. Panama Picks – World Cup Group L Betting Preview, Team News, and Predictions (Jun 17) 

• When: Wednesday, June 17, 2026. 7:00 PM ET
• Where: Toronto Stadium, Canada
• How to Watch: FOX

Ghana vs. Panama World Cup Preview

The second matchup in Group L at the FIFA World Cup is set for Toronto, Canada on June 17, as Ghana bid to avoid a shock defeat against Panama. This is likely to be a must-win encounter for the African nation ahead of upcoming fixtures against England and Croatia.

ALSO SEE: World Cup 2026: Our Experts Share Their World Cup Picks

Ghana Stats & Team News

Ghana will kick off their World Cup campaign in Canada against Panama. Carlos Queiroz will be taking charge of a third different nation at the tournament, and there are positives to take from their qualifying performances. The Black Stars won eight of their ten matches in the CAF region, scoring 23 goals and conceding just six.

However, it is worth noting that they failed to qualify for AFCON earlier this year. Recent form would also be a negative, as Ghana have failed to win in their last six, and they have conceded at least twice in all three of their defeats suffered in 2026.

Likely Lineup:

(4-3-3) Ati-Zigi (GK); Seidu, Mumin, Mensah, Baba; Partey, Sibo, Yirenkyi; Semenyo, Ayew, Williams

Panama Stats & Team News

Panama will be making their second appearance at the World Cup this summer. The nation previously crashed out in the group stage at the 2018 competition, losing all three of their fixtures. Their performances this calendar year have been encouraging, recording notable wins against South Africa and the Dominican Republic since the start of March.

However, defensive improvement will be required after allowing nine goals in their three since the end of May. A lack of world-class talent in their squad is a concern, meaning that they will rely on sitting deep and striking on the counterattack.

Likely Lineup:

(4-5-1) Mejia (GK); Blackman, Ramos, Davis, Farina; Rodriguez, Martinez, Diaz, Barcenas, Harvey; Fajardo

Head-to-Head Stats

• This will be a first meeting between Ghana and Panama.

Ghana vs. Panama World Cup Picks

With the depth within Ghana’s squad, they should have the ability to easily claim maximum points on matchday one in Group L. Therefore, at the odds, they are a standout selection when making picks, and we could see them winning by at least a two-goal margin.

• Ghana (+105)