In a World Cup already marked by controversy, England face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday with a familiar opponent under a cloud. The match carries major group-stage implications, but off-field questions are drawing as much attention as the action on the pitch.
England began their 2026 campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia, but manager Thomas Tuchel is managing several selection headaches. Bukayo Saka, carrying an Achilles tendinitis issue, trained partially with the squad on Saturday and fully on Sunday. Tuchel has indicated the 24-year-old Arsenal winger is unlikely to start until the third group game against Panama. Saka was used from the bench against Croatia. The FA has confirmed the injury has not deteriorated since the end of the domestic season, when Arsenal won the Premier League.
“England's World Cup 2026 campaign: squad, Tuchel's management, and the Thomas Partey controversy.”
Defender Trevoh Chalobah was drafted into the squad after Tino Livramento suffered an injury on the eve of the tournament. The 26-year-old Chelsea player was on holiday in New York when he received a text from Tuchel asking for a video call. “My heart just stopped,” Chalobah said. “He was smiling and said: ‘I have got some news for you.’” Chalobah flew to Kansas City and joined the squad, though he had to speed up delivery of new boots after giving away his old pair in a season-end giveaway. Tuchel gave Chalobah his Chelsea debut in 2021 and his England debut in June 2025, and even tried to sign him for Bayern Munich.
Ghana’s squad includes Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal midfielder now at Villarreal. Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault, plus two further rape charges, all of which he denies. He missed Ghana’s opening match against Panama because Canadian officials refused him entry, but the United States granted him a visa for the match in Boston. The Football Association has said it will leave England’s players to decide whether to shake hands with Partey during the pre-match ceremony. Ghana’s head coach, Carlos Queiroz, has maintained that Partey should be considered innocent until proven guilty: “Let events run their normal course, let the river flow and one day, when the river meets the ocean, we will find the truth.”
For UK readers, the Partey situation highlights the tension between legal presumption of innocence and public perception at a major tournament. England’s players, including Saka and Declan Rice – both former Arsenal teammates of Partey – face a deeply personal decision. Meanwhile, Tuchel’s management of Saka’s fitness and the integration of late call-up Chalobah will be key to England’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
Q: When is England vs Ghana and how can I watch it? The match takes place on Tuesday in Boston. Kick-off time and broadcast details are available via official World Cup channels and UK broadcasters.
Q: Why is Thomas Partey playing for Ghana despite facing rape charges? Partey has denied all charges and is scheduled to stand trial next year. He was granted a US visa for the match, and the Ghanaian FA has selected him under the principle of presumption of innocence. Canada, which hosted Ghana’s first match, refused him entry.
Q: Who is Trevoh Chalobah and what is his connection to Thomas Tuchel? Chalobah is a Chelsea defender who was called up as a late replacement for the injured Tino Livramento. Tuchel gave him his professional debut at Chelsea in 2021, his England debut in 2025, and tried to sign him for Bayern Munich. Chalobah describes their relationship as “special.”
England’s next match after Ghana is against Panama, where Saka may be fit enough to start. Tuchel’s squad depth, with Chalobah adding defensive cover, will be tested as the group stage reaches its climax.