FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — England and Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz have met before at the World Cup, with the result being quite a bit different.
This time, Queiroz’s team earned a point that could end up being enough for a spot in the round of 32.
Click to Gallery
Ghana's soccer fans cheer from the stands during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare makes a save during the second half of the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
England's Harry Kane (9) reacts after missing a shot on goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
England's Harry Kane (9) reacts after missing a shot on goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ghana's Fatawu Issahaku (7) and England's Noni Madueke (20) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
England dominated possession on Tuesday but came up empty on several late scoring opportunities in a rain-filled 0-0 draw.
“Our plan was to block and frustrate them from the first minute,” Queiroz said. “We did it.”
Four years ago at the World Cup in Qatar, Queiroz was coaching Iran when his team faced England and lost 6-2.
England, which has not lost to an African country at the World Cup in nine meetings, outshot Ghana 19-1 but failed capitalize on multiple chances in the closing minutes.
“Frustrated a little bit with how they defended, how they set up,” England midfielder Jude Bellingham said. “They got exactly out of the game what they played for. Couldn’t quite break them down, even with all corners, all the possession, all the shots on goal from distance.”
Both teams won their opening matches at this year's tournament, with Ghana beating Panama 1-0 and England defeating Croatia 4-2. Now both still have work to do in Group L before securing a spot in the knockout round at the first 48-team World Cup.
England ended up losing to France in the quarterfinals at the 2022 tournament. Ghana hasn’t made it to the knockout round since reaching the quarterfinals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
But with the expanded tournament this year, the best eight third-place teams will advance, giving both teams a good chance heading into their final group matches.
England will next play Panama on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Ghana will take on Panama at the same time in Philadelphia.
The Three Lions had a chance to take the lead in the 86th minute when Nico O’Reilly’s header hit the crossbar. Harry Kane gathered the rebound but couldn’t get enough on it with his left foot and shot high.
Ghana’s best chance came in the 78th minute came when Abdul Fatawu outfought England midfielder Eberechi Eze for the ball and raced down the sideline. He fed the ball to Prince Adu, but he was challenged from behind by Ezri Konsa before he could get off a shot. Adu wanted a penalty but didn’t get it.
“It was a clear penalty, if not a red card,” Queiroz said. "We have no doubts about that."
England coach Thomas Tuchel said they were a bit surprised with how Ghana was aligned, defending in a 4-5-1 formation. He called Ghana's efforts one of the most physical that he's seen in the tournament.
“They defended with a lot of determination. A lot of discipline," Tuchel said.
Tuchel added he doesn’t believe England was too dependent on Kane, the striker who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“He was not involved as much as we would like to, but it was so narrow,” Tuchel said. “It was difficult to find space. The little moments that he had were just so unlucky."
In the first half, England had 60% of the possession but only five attempts on goal, with Kane missing inside the box just before the end of the half.
Ghana picked up the pace in the second half, getting a chance in the 50th minute when Marvin Senaya got a touch in the box, but couldn’t quite get much behind a header as it was blocked by the England defense.
Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare earned a clean sheet in his first World Cup start.
“I think we did our best to get the best possible result that we were hoping for,” Ghana midfielder Kwasi Sibo said. “It’s just the plan of the coach and we did follow the coach.”
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Ghana's soccer fans cheer from the stands during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare makes a save during the second half of the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
England's Harry Kane (9) reacts after missing a shot on goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
England's Harry Kane (9) reacts after missing a shot on goal during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Ghana's Fatawu Issahaku (7) and England's Noni Madueke (20) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group L soccer match between England and Ghana in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Maryland Democrats chose state Del. Adrian Boafo on Tuesday to advance to November's general election in the race to succeed his retiring former boss, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, opting for a continuation of Hoyer's pragmatic style of politics over a more progressive, antiestablishment approach promised by some other candidates.
Boafo, a 32-year-old state delegate, received key endorsements from Hoyer, Gov. Wes Moore and other prominent Democrats, along with donations from tech firms and the cryptocurrency industry. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s super PAC also spent more than $1 million backing him.
Boafo posted on the social platform X a photo of him smiling alongside supporters and expressed confidence about the general election.
“Fired up,” he said. “Ready to go.”
Meanwhile rising party star Gov. Wes Moore won the Democratic primary in his bid for reelection to a second term. Republican voters hope to return the state to GOP leadership by picking a candidate they think can unseat him.
The primaries in the left-leaning East Coast state are set to have an outsize impact. In many cases they will determine who is likely to win in heavily partisan districts this fall. Seven of Maryland's eight congressional districts are represented by Democrats, and one by a Republican.
That dynamic and Hoyer’s departure attracted big spending and some familiar names to the most-watched Democratic primaries.
Among them was Harry Dunn, a former police officer who defended the U.S. Capitol from the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. He ran on a platform that included protecting democracy.
Some races became proxy fights about how Democrats should behave in the current political climate. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson faced a tough primary challenge for the first time in years from a progressive who criticized his decision to block a midcycle redistricting attempt.
The lead-up to Election Day has had some hiccups. Last month the State Board of Elections had to resend mail-in ballots to some voters in the closed primary after a vendor error caused some to receive a ballot for the wrong party.
President Donald Trump seized on the issue, falsely claiming that Moore illegally sent the ballots to ensure victory for Democrats. The state administrator of elections derided him for spreading misinformation.
As the longest-serving House Democrat and the longtime party No. 2 in the chamber, Hoyer is nothing short of an institution.
His retirement gave voters in the 5th District a chance to reflect on that leadership, and they ultimately decided they wanted more of the same.
Natasha Greensword, 45, and her husband Rodrick Greensword, 58, both voted for Moore in the gubernatorial primary and for Boafo to be the nominee to succeed Hoyer.
“We know the governor is governed by the pillars on which his culture is built,” and he will work for the people, making moral and humane choices, Natasha Greensword said.
She said Boafo seemed to share the same values as Moore and Hoyer. She added that she thought Hoyer’s endorsement helped as well.
In all, 24 Democratic candidates were on the ballot, such as Dunn and progressive attorney Wala Blegay, proposed change. Both Dunn and Blegay, who are vocally pro-Palestinian, criticized Boafo for getting help from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s super PAC and other special interests.
The best-funded candidate in the race was Quincy Bareebe, a home healthcare CEO who funneled more than $3 million of her own money into the primary.
“I just love what she is doing in the community,” said Michelle Green, 59, who voted for Bareebe.
Boafo will face Republican Chris Chaffee, a business owner, in the November general election for the heavily Democratic district.
Former Democratic Rep. David Trone left his seat representing the sprawling 6th District in 2024. After an unsuccessful Senate bid, he wants it back.
The face-off between Trone and the current officeholder, Democratic Rep. April McClain Delaney, was expensive and contentious. Trone, the wealthy founder of Total Wine & More, lent his campaign some $25 million of his own money, while McClain Delaney lent herself over $7 million.
Trone criticized McClain Delaney on immigration. She was the only Maryland Democrat in Congress to vote for the Laken Riley Act, named after a Georgia student whose killing became an anti-immigrant rallying cry for Republicans.
Maryland used to have a moderately conservative governor in Larry Hogan. In the years since he left office in 2023, Republicans have yet to find a clear successor.
In Tuesday's GOP gubernatorial primary, Dan Cox, an attorney and former state delegate who unsuccessfully ran for governor four years ago, won the nomination.
Cox leaned the furthest right out of the nine candidates in the race. He has a photo of himself with Trump on his law practice’s website, and he pledged to slash taxes and beef up housing affordability programs if elected.
Jason Mangen, a lifelong Republican, said he backed Cox because he was concerned about the state's budget, which has seen shortfalls over the years.
“You look at the economy, and hopefully get a governor who can guide the legislature and get a good budget,” Mangen said. “I think Dan Cox is good on the budget.”
Swenson reported from New York, and Kruesi from Providence, Rhode Island. Associated Press writer Gary Fields in Bowie, Maryland, contributed.
People cast their votes at the Upper Marlboro Community Center Tuesday,, June 23, 2026, in Upper Marlboro, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Adrian Boafo, right, a Maryland state delegate and candidate for U.S. Congress reacts after being acknowledged by U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer at the "AmeriPac Bull Roast" Friday, June 12, 2026, in Mitchellville, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Adrian Boafo, left, a Maryland state delegate and candidate for U.S. Congress stands with U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer at the "AmeriPac Bull Roast" Friday, June 12, 2026, in Mitchellville, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Adrian Boafo, a Maryland state delegate and candidate for U.S. Congress greets supporters at the "AmeriPac Bull Roast" Friday, June 12, 2026, in Mitchellville, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Quincy Bareebe, candidate for Congress, greets voters at the Upper Marlboro Community Center, Tuesday June 23, 2026, in Upper Marlboro, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Harry Dunn, former U.S. Capitol police officer and candidate for U.S. Congress greets a voter Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Upper Marlboro, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Adrian Boafo, center, a Maryland state delegate and candidate for U.S. Congress smiles for a photograph, which included all of U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer's staff over the years, at the "AmeriPac Bull Roast" Friday, June 12, 2026, in Mitchellville, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
FILE - Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn speaks during the Ben Nelson Gala, Nov. 7, 2025, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File)
FILE -Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., speaks at a news conference about the Protect Our Probationary Employees Act on Capitol Hill, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Adrian Boafo, a Maryland state delegate and candidate for U.S. Congress walks into the crowd after being introduced by Congressman Steny Hoyer, left, at the "AmeriPac Bull Roast" Friday, June 12, 2026, in Mitchellville, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
FILE - Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland, speaks during the National Action Network (NAN) Convention in New York, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, File)
