Crystal Palace forward Eddie Nketiah was among the spectators at BMO Field on Wednesday as Ghana opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama.
The former Arsenal striker watched from the stands as the Black Stars secured all three points thanks to a late goal from Caleb Yirenkyi, who tapped home Brandon Thomas-Asante’s cross to settle a closely contested encounter.
Despite Panama dominating large portions of the game, Ghana showed resilience and experience to grind out a crucial win in their opening Group L fixture.
Nketiah’s presence at the stadium is likely to fuel further speculation about his international future. Born in England to Ghanaian parents, the 27-year-old has previously expressed an interest in representing the Black Stars at senior level.
The striker represented England at youth level and made one senior appearance for the Three Lions, but has long been linked with a potential switch of allegiance to Ghana.
His attendance at Ghana’s World Cup match comes as the Black Stars continue to monitor players of Ghanaian descent who could strengthen the national team in the future.
Nketiah is coming off a challenging season with Crystal Palace, where he scored three goals in 14 appearances across all competitions for the Eagles.
The Black Stars will now shift their focus to a crucial Group L clash against England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium as they look to build on their winning start to the tournament.
