Predicted Lineup
Team Form History
Croatia
Ghana
About the Match
The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage heats up on June 28, 2026, as Croatia faces Ghana in a highly anticipated encounter at Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia, USA. This crucial match, kicking off at 02:30 AM IST (UTC+5:30), could significantly impact the qualification hopes for both nations. The Philadelphia Stadium, a modern marvel, is set to provide an electrifying atmosphere for this decisive contest, as fans from around the globe converge to witness world-class football.
Historically, this will be the first-ever meeting between Croatia and Ghana at any level, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the fixture. Croatia, led by the evergreen Luka ModriΔ, will rely on their experienced midfield and the defensive solidity of JoΕ‘ko Gvardiol to control the tempo of the game. Ghana, known for their athleticism and quick transitions, will look to disrupt Croatia's rhythm with key players like Thomas Partey in midfield and the attacking prowess of Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew. The Black Stars enter the match in confident form, having secured back-to-back clean sheets in their opening World Cup fixtures, highlighting their strong defensive organization.
Croatia is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, featuring Dominik LivakoviΔ in goal, a back four of StaniΕ‘iΔ, PongraΔiΔ, Ε utalo, and Gvardiol, with KovaΔiΔ and ModriΔ anchoring the midfield. Marco PaΕ‘aliΔ, Martin Baturina, and Ivan PeriΕ‘iΔ will support lone striker Ante Budimir. Ghana is predicted to deploy a 4-3-3 setup, with Benjamin Asare between the posts, Alidu Seidu, Jerome Opoku, Abdul Mumin, and Gideon Mensah in defense. Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, and Mohammed Kudus will form the midfield, providing service to the attacking trio of Fatawu Issahaku, Jordan Ayew, and Antoine Semenyo. Indian viewers can catch all the action live on ZEE's dedicated sports channels, UNITE8 Sports, and through their digital platform, Zee5.
