Was Ghana robbed in dour draw to save England’s World Cup hopes?

Is it possible that Ghana robbed in Tuesday’s draw against England just to save the Three Lions’ World Cup hopes? In the 0-0 draw between England and Ghana on June 23, 2026, in Group L of the FIFA World Cup, one moment stood out: a late challenge by England’s Ezri Konsa on Ghana substitute Prince Kwabena Adu. Replays showed Konsa sliding in carelessly, making contact with Adu’s knee or leg while getting little to no ball.

Many called on the GFA to launch an official complaint over this, Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz claimed VAR had “gone for coffee” and that it was a clear penalty (and potentially a red card). Yet there was no review, and the Three Lions escaped and split points with the Black Stars of Ghana.

Ghana robbed

Several factors likely explain this non-call. First, the on-field referee may have viewed it as a 50/50 or “soft” contact, especially since Adu was surging forward aggressively. Note that in high-stakes matches involving a powerhouse like England, officials sometimes err on the side of caution to avoid “game-changing” decisions late on. VAR’s threshold for intervention is deliberately high; it must be a “clear and obvious error.” Many analysts, including former referees, have argued that this was a clear penalty, with Konsa’s reckless lunge denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Also, there’s the human element and possible subconscious bias. Big European nations often seem to benefit from marginal calls at major tournaments. Ghana, despite a disciplined and dangerous performance on the counter, lacked the global star power or media pressure to force a lengthy check. The absence of a VAR review has fueled accusations of bias and robbing Ghana, especially given other penalties awarded earlier in this World Cup tournament.

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Whatever it was, be it a refereeing caution, VAR complacency, or simple human error, the decision saved England’s unbeaten record in the group but left a sour taste. Football thrives on fairness, and incidents like this erode trust in the system.

England saved

If that penalty had been awarded and converted, a Ghana victory would have flipped the Group L dynamics dramatically. Ghana would sit on 6 points with a strong goal difference, virtually guaranteeing top spot with a result against Croatia. England, on just 3 points after their opening win over Croatia, would head into the final match against Panama needing a strong result, but still very likely to advance.

The real issue would come in the Round of 32 bracket. Now, here is how the fixtures in this 2026 format are to pan out:

• Group L winners face one of the best third-placed teams from Groups E, H, I, J, or K. Often, a more manageable opponent (mid-tier or surprise package like a DR Congo, Algeria, or Uzbekistan side).
• While the runners-up are drawn against the runner-up of Group K, a much tougher prospect. Group K features heavyweights like Portugal and Colombia, making the runner-up likely one of those powerhouses.

This means a loss to Ghana would almost certainly have consigned England to second place (barring extraordinary goal-difference swings). This means facing a stronger knockout opponent early, increased pressure, and a harder route to the quarterfinals. I admit, England’s squad has the quality to overcome most sides, but an early clash with Portugal or Colombia raises the risk of an upset exit and would turn what should be a building exercise into a survival test.

Even without elimination, the media headlines would shift to “England in crisis” under Thomas Tuchel. And greater scrutiny on Harry Kane’s finishing and the team’s lack of cutting edge. It is clear that a Ghana win would have exposed England’s vulnerabilities sooner and potentially shortened their tournament.

What do you also think? Was it just a missed penalty call? Or a sliding-doors moment, craftily executed by the powers that be to keep England’s path smoother? Didn’t Ghana deserve better for their organisation and discipline? Anyway, as the group stage concludes, England still remains the favourite to top the group with a likely win over Panama, and Ghana gets to face tougher sides in their likely round of 32 matches. For now, England has dodged a bullet against Ghana, and it does proves the difference between a comfortable run and an early scare.