England are on the verge of qualifying for the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup following their impressive 4-2 triumph over Croatia.
Now, Thomas Tuchel‘s side take on a Ghana side buoyant after their dramatic late 1-0 win over Panama in their second Group L fixture. A win for either side guarantees a place in the Second Round as both nations approach the defining moments of the Group Stage.
The crunch fixture takes place at the home of the NFL’s New England Patriots, Gilette Stadium, near Boston. With a 9pm BST kick-off, it’s a match that could have huge repurcussions for either side.
To try and predict the outcome, we took to EA Sports FC 26 to simulate the game. After a near-perfect prediction that got not only the scoreline right, but the exact timing and nature of England’s second goal correct too, could EA FC 26 get it right again?
With EA FC 26‘s new mode, The World’s Game, loaded up, what followed was nothing short of bizarre.
Our simulation backed Tuchel to keep Marcus Rashford on the bench following his goal-scoring cameo against Croatia. However, the German chose to reinstate Marc Guehi to the starting line-up.
Guehi was demoted in place of John Stones against Croatia, but came on to replace the exprienced centre-back with little time remaining. If the simulation is right, he’ll partner Ezri Konsa against Ghana, reports the Express.
England simulated starting XI v Ghana: Jordan Pickford; Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson; Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane.
Unlike the fast and furious opening moments of England’s battle with Croatia in Dallas, this simulation played out cagey first half.
The returning Bukayo Saka had a penalty appeal dismissed by the official shortly before half-time, and Kane’s close-range attempt was thwarted by Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare moments later for England’s only effort on goal.
View 3 ImagesBenjamin Asare denied Harry Kane in the first half – but the England skipper had the last laugh(Image: EA Sports/screenshot)
Following a scoreless opening period, the game burst into life seven minutes into the second half. England had one foot in the next round of the 2026 World Cup thanks to a 20-minute blitz:
- 52 mins (1-0): Rashford, on at the break, dummied intelligently inse the box to carve open the Ghanaian defence. After his shot was saved by Asare, Kane was perfectly positioned to nod home and claim England’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record for himself.
- 63 mins (2-0): The skipper grabbed a second to put England in full control, clinically finishing from outside the box
- 71 mins (3-0): Rashford finally got his goal – a second in the tournament – when he cooly slotted home beyond a despairing Asare.
Fans were delirious with such a quick-fire treble, and all appeared positive for England. But with slightly over 10 minutes remaining, momentum shifted.
3-0 ahead and comfortable, England seemed in command even as Jordan Pickford kept out Inaki Williams. The Athletic Bilbao striker ought to have nodded a corner home but then a World Cup meltdown unfolded.
On 79 minutes, Baba Rahman beat Pickford from 20 yards, his curling strike bending into the top-right corner. Then, Ezri Konsa delivered England supporters the most nerve-shredding of finales when he was penalised for handball inside the box.
Antoine Semenyo capitalised from the penalty spot, hammering the ball home to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
Williams then sealed the turnaround two minutes into stoppage time, leaving England fans in utter disbelief as they surrendered a 3-0 advantage to finish all square.
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View 3 ImagesInaki Williams wheels away after scoring Ghana’s dramatic equaliser v England in our EA Sports FC sim(Image: EA Sports/screenshot)
Having witnessed a dramatic triumph over Croatia, supporters will be desperately hoping that this simulation proves wildly inaccurate when the final whistle blows.
England 3 – 3 Ghana