Ghana coach: England lucky, VAR went for coffee

England is considered to have a chance to draw against Ghana in the second match of the 2026 World Cup group stage (Instagram/@england).

JAKARTA - Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz joked that the video assistant referee (VAR) must have gone for coffee after saying England had escaped a penalty and a red card in a goalless draw in the second match of Group L of the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.

After both teams won the opening match of Group L, the Black Stars played defensively and frustrated England in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

England had 79 per cent of the ball, the highest by any team to fail to score in a match in the past 60 years at the World Cup.

However, Ghana also felt aggrieved after their appeal for a late penalty for a foul on Prince Adu by Ezri Konsa was rejected.

The substitute was injured moments earlier in a collision with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who was awarded a free kick instead of a penalty.

Ghana coach Queiroz looked at a FIFA official during a post-match press conference while expressing his complaints.

"I'm not sure VAR is still working at the 2026 World Cup. Do we still have VAR? Does VAR still work? I doubt about it because another penalty that should have been given to Ghana, a clear penalty against England (failed)."

In the match, Armando Villarreal served as VAR for the match led by referee Said Martinez from Honduras.

"We had chances until they got lucky. They were very lucky. Again, the VAR went for a coffee. It's normal, I also want to drink coffee occasionally, but it was a clear penalty, a red card."

"Do you doubt that? Are you watching the game doubting that or just me watching the game?"

"In the end, that's why I say it's a fair result. They had more possession of the ball, we fought more, we fought better, we created chances, they had chances at the end of the game."

"I think they are happy and I am also happy with this draw. Sorry for my sarcasm. If I say these things seriously, they will punish me. So, I hope you understand that I'm just joking," said Queiroz.

England, who have never lost to an African nation at the World Cup in nine meetings, fired 19 shots at Ghana's goal, but failed to capitalize on several chances in the final minutes.

Queiroz also exchanged words with England midfielder Jude Bellingham as they left the pitch at half-time after the Real Madrid player made a hard tackle on Jerome Opoku.

The situation quickly subsided and Bellingham considered it a tight competition.

"To be honest, it was just because I made a careless tackle. I tried to grab the ball and I made a little tackle that hit the opponent."

"I spoke to him after that and then their bench just stood up and tried to give me a yellow card."

"So, I think with their manager, I know him. He's obviously a guy who was at Manchester United, so I have a lot of respect for him. It's just a tight competition for the two of us," he said.

Queiroz, who is managing in his fifth World Cup, said the drama started after Bellingham used foul language.

"My intention was to tell him to calm down after the tackle he did. It could have been a second yellow card, obviously, because he kicked our player."

"I'm worried because my player is not in 100 percent healthy condition. He reacted badly to some harsh words and that's why it all started," Queiroz told ITV.

Both teams won their opening matches at this year's tournament, with Ghana beating Panama 1-0 and England beating Croatia 4-2.

Now both still have to fight in Group L before securing a place in the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup.

However, with this year's expanded tournament, the top eight third-ranked teams will qualify, giving both teams a good chance ahead of their final group matches.

England will next play Panama at East Rutherford, New Jersey. Meanwhile, Ghana will face Panama in Philadelphia this weekend.

England's previous best achievement was the quarter-finals, losing to France at the 2022 World Cup. Meanwhile, Ghana has never qualified for the knockout stages since reaching the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa.