World Cup: Ghana, Colombia pick up crucial wins
On Wednesday evening in the United States, Matchday One of the World Cup wrapped up with narrow victories for Ghana and Colombia. Get the latest on how the stars of Ligue 1 McDonald's fared with our match recaps.
Ghana 1-0 Panama
In Group L, a Black Stars team which featured no less than four Ligue 1 McDonald's players in the eleven -- the Auxerre trio of Elisha Owusu, Marvin Senaya and Gideon Mensah, as well as Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah -- edged Panama 1-0 in Toronto. On a rainy night in Canada, chances were far and few between as Carlos Quieroz's side faced an unfancied Panama with former Marseille man Amir Murillo in the eleven.
Panama had a gilt-edged early chance on just two minutes, with Lawrence Ati-Zigi doing well to save from close range, but aside from a penalty shout for the CONCACAF side, the first 45 minutes were largely a drab affair. Former Lorient and Marseille striker Jordan Ayew nearly gave his side the lead midway through the second half, but for a late challenge, and from there the match gained in momentum, if not quality. The deadlock would only be broken in the fifth minute of injury time, though, as Caleb Yirenkyi was first to reach a low cross, capping an end-to-end counter for Ghana. The three points secured, Ghana will next play England in Boston on Tuesday, with first place in the group and certain progress at stake.
GHANA WINS IT IN THE 95TH MINUTE 🇬ðŸ‡ðŸ’¥ pic.twitter.com/vja4nqLKcP
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 18, 2026
Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan
Two second-half goals from Los Cafeteros helped them to a Group K win in Mexico City. Former AS Monaco playmaker James Rodriguez was in the eleven for Colombia, while former Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov started for the Uzbeks. The first half was cagey and relatively devoid of chances, before Luis Diaz hit the inside of the post just past the half hour. The Bayern Munich winner would then set up Daniel Muñoz ten minutes later, giving the Colombians the lead at the break.
Uzbekistan would battle back and level the match after Camilo Vargas spilled the ball on the hour, but Colombia would go back ahead through Diaz five minutes later before adding a third in stoppage time, getting a win that leaves them in control of the group after DR Congo and Portugal had drawn earlier in the day.
