Ghana and Panama put on a World Cup show in Toronto even if it isn’t the best Group L has to offer

Ghana finally prevailed 1-0 when 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi scored in second-half stoppage time.

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Published Jun 17, 2026  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

Caleb Yirenkyi of Ghana celebrates after scoring his team's goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between Ghana and Panama at Toronto Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Toronto. Ghana won 1-0. Photo by Robert Cianflone /Getty Images

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They were singing on the streets prior to the game, the here-to-party Ghana fans in yellow and the Red Wave of Panama joining in song and dance and anticipation.

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They sang in Toronto Stadium as well, from start to finish and they were even singing in the rain that began to pelt the lakeside venue midway through the first half.

It was a World Cup celebration for the announced crowd of 42,942, loud and colourful in all its splendour, and giving Toronto a full-serving taste of what this event can be, including a desperation added-time goal to give Ghana the sweet 1-0 victory.

They were having so much fun, this mix of African and Central American supporters, that they even loudly booed the announcement of both hydration breaks.

As for the football matchup for the second of six games to be played here?

That was the consolation prize for the city, which certainly got the short shrift in terms of marquee games on its schedule, though those in the stadium were rewarded with an incredible show nonetheless.

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Both participants on Wednesday are clear fringe players in their group, in all likelihood vying for a third-place advancement to the Round of 32. That plight made earning three points in their opener that much more critical.

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Ghana, the favoured and more World Cup-tested of the two, finally prevailed when 20-year-old Caleb Yirenkyi buried a ball into an empty net to secure the win in rapturous fashion.

That it happened in the north end of Toronto Stadium, directly below the largest group of Ghanian supporters, only added to the moment, a cacophony of sound and song that lasted long after the final whistle. And when it was over, the legendary Portuguese coach, 73-year-old Carlos Queiroz, immediately went to those fans to share in a World Cup moment to be savoured.

What Group L means to Toronto

Yes, Group L touched down in Toronto on Wednesday, the 12th and final division to get under way in World Cup 2026 and from a putting on a show perspective, it delivered and then some.

With three matches involving the group that includes England scheduled here, the possibilities turned out to be lesser than the reality.

Instead of throwing Canadian fans a bone by having one England contest here, Toronto become the unofficial home to Panama, making just its second Cup experience.

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This is not a surprise, really. FIFA didn’t become one of the richest sports organizations in the world on a whim, after all, and with Toronto Stadium the smallest of 16 in the tournament it was never going to get an England date in group play.

Instead, two of England’s games are at the venues with the largest seating capacity — the Three Lions’ 4-2 win over Croatia earlier Wednesday was at Dallas Stadium, while their finale, against Panama, is at New York/New Jersey Stadium.

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What’s the best case for Toronto?

While Saturday’s match between No. 9 Germany and Ivory Coast — two 1-0 teams from Group E — for now features the top-ranked team to visit Toronto, the one elimination-round game to be played here has possibilities.

It will feature the runners-up from Groups K and L, meaning the most likely scenario entering the competition, and again after all eight teams in those groups debuted on Wednesday, is a Croatia-Colombia matchup scheduled for July 2.

That has its attractions, but the real carrot would be to have either England (in L) or Portugal (in K) slip to second and make Toronto the place to be the day after Canada Day.

Either Panama or Ghana would have to knock off England to make that happen, however, and by what either team showed on Wednesday, that would seem highly unlikely.

The other possibility is to have Portugal be the Group K representative, still a long shot, but one in which the door opened slightly earlier on Wednesday when Congo DR played Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a surprising 1-1 draw.

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Hydrating in the rain (and getting booed for it)

The hydration breaks midway through each half continues to be a controversial addition to the World Cup, and the fans in Toronto shared their view on the intrusion.

On a cool night by the lake, the announcement of the first-half break was booed loudly by the crowd. It didn’t help that hydration time came just as the skies opened and the rain that would dominate the rest of the night arrived.

And with the excitement picking up in the second half — particularly as Ghana started pressing the pace — the announcement for the second break was met with even louder derision.

As for the rain, the Ghana-heavy crowd in the temporary stands in the north end spot the worst of it, with no cover from the elements.

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