Ghana sneak through and Queiroz calls out the format
Knockout stage, here you come
Ghana are through. A 2–1 loss to Croatia on Saturday was enough, your team finished third in Group L and grabbed one of the best third-placed spots in the knockout stage (4) (8) (14). England won the group after beating Panama, Croatia took second, and Ghana advanced anyway. The system you probably hated before the tournament just saved your campaign.
Luckassen kept Ghana breathing
Two brothers, two countries, one World Cup goal each. Derrick Luckassen scored Ghana's goal against Croatia, and his brother Brian Brobbey, who plays for the Netherlands, also found the net at this tournament (1) (11). Luckassen's strike mattered: it kept Ghana within one goal of Croatia and protected the goal difference that ultimately carried your team through (2) (9).
Queiroz: money talks
Carlos Queiroz did not hold back after the match. "C'est l'argent qui parle", money talks, the Ghana coach said about the expanded 48-team format (7). His team just benefited from that very format, squeezing through as a third-placed side, and Queiroz still called it out. The man who organized one of the tournament's best defensive displays against England is not here to make friends.
Colombia waiting in Kansas
Colombia won Group K ahead of Portugal and will face Ghana in Kansas in the Round of 16 (5) (15). A fresh matchup, a neutral venue, and a Colombia side that just finished above a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal team (1). Derrick Luckassen has already played against Colombian players at club level, that experience could matter (15).
Fan reactions
The prevailing mood on Reddit is cautious but buzzing. Fans are circling the Colombia matchup in Kansas as a real opportunity, with many pointing out that Ghana's defensive structure under Queiroz could frustrate another big-name opponent. There is also genuine amusement that a coach who just called the format a money grab is now marching deeper into the very tournament he criticized. Full thread on r/soccer
Sources
- 1. telegraaf.nl — Messi doet het weer, broer Brobbey scoort voor Ghana, Ronaldo stelt met Portugal teleur, Congo schrijft geschiedenis: dit heb je vannacht gemist op WK 2026
- 2. vi.nl — Moment van de Dag: waarom de WK-goal van Luckassen zo bijzonder is
- 4. midilibre.fr — Coupe du monde 2026, good morning America, on connaît tous les qualifiés pour les 16es de finale, voici les affiches, c’est le récap de la nuit
- 5. sportnieuws.nl — Eindstand Groep K WK voetbal | Colombia houdt Portugal onder zich, Congo ook door naar knock-outfase
- 7. rmcsport.bfmtv.com — Coupe du monde 2026: "C'est l'argent qui parle", le coup de gueule du sélectionneur du Ghana contre le Mondial à 48 équipes
- 8. vi.nl — Dit zijn de beste nummers drie die doorgaan op het WK
- 9. voetbalprimeur.nl — Luckassen trefzeker bij WK-debuut voor Ghana: 'Mooi gevoel, maar uiteindelijk...'
- 11. sportnieuws.nl — Broer van Brian Brobbey scoort op WK voetbal voor ander land dan Nederland
- 14. theguardian.com — Croatia snatch second by beating Ghana but both through to World Cup knockout stage
- 15. informador.mx — ¡Oficial! México ya tiene rival para los dieciseisavos de final del Mundial 2026