Round of 32 • Match 88 — Colombia 1–0 Ghana
2026-07-03 • 21:30:00 • Kansas City Stadium / GEHA Field at Arrowhead, Kansas City, Missouri • FIFA World Cup 2026
Colombia booked their place in the next round with a controlled 1–0 win over Ghana in Kansas City. The decisive moment arrived early, when Jhon Arias scored in the 14th minute after Luis Suárez had already entered the match as an early replacement for Jhon Córdoba. That goal gave Colombia a platform to manage the rhythm, protect the central lanes, and force Ghana to chase the game for more than 75 minutes.
The match was not a shootout, but Colombia created the clearer chances. FIFA’s official statistics listed Colombia with 20 total attempts, eight on target and 54% possession, while Ghana produced eight attempts without registering a shot on target. Colombia’s passing control was also visible in the distribution numbers: 560 passes and 540 completed passes, compared with Ghana’s 390 passes and 329 completed passes.
Ghana attempted to change the match through the bench, with Alidu Seidu replacing Marvin Senaya early, Elisha Owusu and Abdul Fatawu entering after the hour, and Ernest Nuamah and Prince Adu added late. Colombia also adjusted, bringing on Richard Ríos at half-time, Juan Fernando Quintero in the second half, and Jaminton Campaz near stoppage time. In the closing minutes, Colombia continued to threaten through Campaz, Richard Ríos, Luis Díaz and Luis Suárez, while Ghana struggled to turn possession into clean final actions.
ESPN listed the match at GEHA Field at Arrowhead in Kansas City, Missouri, with 69,045 in attendance and Clément Turpin as referee. The result was narrow on the scoreboard but convincing in control: Colombia limited Ghana’s attacking output, defended set-piece pressure, and advanced with a professional knockout-stage performance.
Final Score
- Colombia: 1
- Ghana: 0
- Status: Full time
Goals
- 14’ — Colombia: Jhon Arias, assisted by Luis Suárez
Cards and Key Events
- 8’ — Colombia: Luis Suárez replaced Jhon Córdoba
- 13’ — Ghana: Alidu Seidu replaced Marvin Senaya
- 14’ — Colombia: Jhon Arias scored
- HT — Colombia: Richard Ríos replaced James Rodríguez
- 62’ — Ghana: Elisha Owusu replaced Kwasi Sibo
- 62’ — Ghana: Abdul Fatawu replaced Iñaki Williams
- 72’ — Colombia: Juan Fernando Quintero replaced Jhon Arias
- 79’ — Ghana: Ernest Nuamah replaced Jordan Ayew
- 79’ — Ghana: Prince Adu replaced Caleb Yirenkyi
- 90’ — Colombia: Jaminton Campaz replaced Luis Díaz
- 90+8’ — Full time: Colombia 1–0 Ghana
Key Statistics
- Possession: Colombia 54% — Ghana 38% with 8% in contest
- Total attempts: Colombia 20 — Ghana 8
- Shots on target: Colombia 8 — Ghana 0
- Shots off target: Colombia 10 — Ghana 4
- Attempts inside penalty area: Colombia 11 — Ghana 1
- Attempts outside penalty area: Colombia 9 — Ghana 7
- Assists: Colombia 1 — Ghana 0
- Final-third entries by channel: left 22–8, left-inside 7–3, central 7–5, right-inside 10–7, right 18–15
- Offers to receive: Colombia 403 — Ghana 186
- Receptions between midfield and defensive lines: Colombia 102 — Ghana 85
- Receptions behind the defensive line: Colombia 12 — Ghana 3
- Line breaks attempted: Colombia 160 — Ghana 168
- Line breaks completed: Colombia 90 — Ghana 50
- Defensive line breaks attempted: Colombia 20 — Ghana 46
- Defensive line breaks completed: Colombia 12 — Ghana 3
- Passes: Colombia 560 — Ghana 390
- Passes completed: Colombia 540 — Ghana 329
- Crosses: Colombia 17 — Ghana 11
- Crosses completed: Colombia 5 — Ghana 3
- Corners: Colombia 3 — Ghana 1
- Free kicks: Colombia 10 — Ghana 16
- Fouls against: Colombia 14 — Ghana 10
- Offsides: Colombia 2 — Ghana 0
- Yellow cards: Colombia 2 — Ghana 3
- Red cards: Colombia 0 — Ghana 0
- Forced turnovers: Colombia 38 — Ghana 35
- Pressing applied: Colombia 327 — Ghana 287
Starting Lineups
Colombia 4-1-2-3: Camilo Vargas; Daniel Muñoz, Jhon Lucumí, Gustavo Puerta, Johan Mojica, Davinson Sánchez; James Rodríguez, Jhon Arias, Jefferson Lerma; Luis Díaz, Jhon Córdoba.
Ghana 4-1-2-3: Lawrence Ati Zigi; Gideon Mensah, Jerome Opoku, Derrick Luckassen, Marvin Senaya; Caleb Yirenkyi, Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Antoine Semenyo; Jordan Ayew, Iñaki Williams.
Status: Completed. Colombia advanced to the next round.
