Ghana fans take over Toronto streets to celebrate shock World Cup win

Supporters at Toronto Stadium poured into the streets and made their way to Sankofa Square as fans danced and sang until the early hours

Published Jun 18, 2026  •  Last updated 28 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Fans of Ghana show their support before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between Ghana and Panama at Toronto Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Photo by Robert Cianflone /Getty Images

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Ghana fans took to the streets of Toronto on Wednesday night to celebrate their team’s stunning victory against Panama.

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The match went down to the wire right up until Ghana’s Caleb Yirenkyi scored the lone goal in the 94th minute ahead of the final whistle, notching the nation a 1-0 win in Group L.

Supporters at Toronto Stadium poured into the streets and made their way to Sankofa Square as fans danced and sang until the early hours.

But the square was already packed with thousands of Ghanaians who didn’t make it to the stadium.

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As the celebrations continued, a barricade of Toronto Police officers was formed to prevent Ghana’s post-game partying from spilling onto Yonge and Dundas Sts.

Name change

Sankofa Square has become a popular gathering spot for Ghanaian fans during the FIFA World Cup, fitting given its name-change from Yonge-Dundas Square is tied to the West African nation.

“Sankofa” originates in Ghana and refers to “the act of reflecting on and reclaiming teachings from the past which enables us to move forward together.”

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Toronto councillors approved the renaming of Yonge-Dundas Square and Dundas Station in 2023, following efforts to remove names across the city that are connected to slavery and alleged racism.

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What’s next?

Ghana is one of three West African nations playing in Toronto during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In Group E action, Ivory Coast is set to take on Germany on Saturday afternoon, while Group I’s Senegal will play its final group-stage match against Iraq on June 26.

Ghana is currently in second behind England following Group L’s opening round of matches.

Caleb Yirenkyi #3 of Ghana celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between Ghana and Panama at Toronto Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) Photo by Robert Cianflone /Getty Images

Both nations each have three points, but England has a higher goal difference after its 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday.

Group L’s next games are on June 23, with England taking on Ghana in Boston, while Toronto hosts Panama and Croatia.

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