England escaped with a point, but Ghana left Foxborough feeling it deserved much more.
The Black Stars held England to a frustrating 0-0 draw in one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far. While England dominated nearly 80% of possession and controlled much of the match, the biggest talking point came late in the second half when Ghana believed it had been denied a clear penalty.
Prince Kwabena Adu burst into the penalty area before appearing to be brought down by England defender Ezri Konsa. Referee Said Martinez immediately waved play on, and despite protests from the Ghanaian players, VAR never instructed the official to review the incident.
After the match, Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz didn’t hold back.
“VAR went for a coffee.”
The veteran coach sarcastically questioned where the technology had disappeared at the biggest moment of the game, insisting the challenge was not only a penalty but also worthy of a red card for denying a clear scoring opportunity.
Queiroz’s frustration wasn’t isolated.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney also believed Ghana should have received the spot kick, saying Ezri Konsa “gets the man, not the ball.” Former defender Micah Richards agreed, adding more fuel to the debate surrounding the tournament’s officiating.
Ironically, despite the controversy, Queiroz praised his team’s overall performance. Ghana’s defensive organization completely neutralized England’s attack, limiting Harry Kane and company despite England recording the highest possession (79%) by a team that failed to score in a World Cup match in more than 60 years.
England still controls its own destiny heading into the final group match against Panama, while Ghana sits in an excellent position to qualify after taking four points from its opening two matches. But had the penalty been awarded—and converted—the Black Stars could already be celebrating a famous victory over one of the tournament favorites.
Instead, they’ll head into the final group game wondering what might have been and whether one missed VAR decision could ultimately define their World Cup journey.
