2026 World Cup: We have 33 million lions – Carlos Queiroz fires warning ahead of Ghana-England clash

Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has expressed confidence in his side's preparations ahead of their highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L showdown against England.

The Black Stars and the Three Lions, both victorious in their opening group matches, will face off at the Gillette Stadium on Tuesday night in a fixture that could prove decisive in the race for a place in the knockout stage.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Queiroz acknowledged England's quality, particularly the wealth of experience within their squad and the intensity they derive from the Premier League.

“We know how England play. They have excellent players, they have the experience of their Premier League. They have intensity, but we know how we can control this,” Queiroz said.

Queiroz also delivered a passionate message to Ghanaian supporters, insisting that the Black Stars will draw strength from the backing of millions at home.

“We know they have three lions, but we have 33 million lions,” he said.

The encounter revives memories of Queiroz's previous meeting with England at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when his Iran side suffered a 6-2 defeat in the group stage. However, the veteran coach maintains that the experience provided valuable lessons rather than representing failure.

“I was not defeated. In football, we never lose. We win or we learn. We learned a couple of lessons that day,” Queiroz said.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
A positive result for Ghana would significantly boost their chances of advancing from Group L ahead of their final group fixture on June 27 in Philadelphia, as the Black Stars seek a return to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time since 2010.