Zlatan Ibrahimović: Ghana Can Challenge England and Croatia in World Cup 2026

Former Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimović has sparked significant debate with his remarks regarding Panama’s group in the 2026 World Cup, labeling the Panamanian team as the weakest among a group that includes England, Croatia, and Ghana.

Panama, managed by Thomas Christiansen, is gearing up for the tournament with an opening match against Ghana before facing Croatia and concluding their group stage against England.

According to Spanish newspaper “AS,” Ibrahimović shared his insights on the prospects of each team in the group during an appearance on Fox Sports, analyzing their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.

The former star stated, “We have England, and we will see if they can finally deliver what their fans have been waiting for. Then there’s Croatia, and I have Croatian roots, so I will support them throughout the tournament. Ghana also has talented players who can pose problems for their opponents.”.

He added, “As for Panama, with all due respect, I believe they will be the weakest team in this group.”.

Ibrahimović believes that the battle for the top spot will be between England and Croatia, while Ghana has the potential to disrupt expectations and secure crucial points in the early stages of the competition.

He continued, “England and Croatia will compete for first place, but Ghana is capable of complicating matters. However, I do not see Panama having a real chance to compete.”.

The report from “AS” concluded by suggesting that Ibrahimović’s comments could provide Panama with extra motivation as they prepare to deliver a strong performance and prove themselves against top teams.