England vs Ghana lineups: Harry Kane starts, Thomas Partey returns for Group L clash

England and Ghana face off on Tuesday, June 23 at Boston Stadium in Foxborough with both teams confirmed to name strong XIs — and plenty on the line. The latest team news confirms Harry Kane will spearhead England's attack while Thomas Partey returns to Ghana's starting midfield; kickoff is at 20:00 UTC and the match is recorded in match_data as being in the 1st half, 0-0. A victory for either side would secure progression to the World Cup Round of 32, making this Group L meeting decisive.

Confirmed lineups and formations

England set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Jordan Pickford in goal and Harry Kane leading the line. Thomas Tuchel's starting XI reads: Jordan Pickford; Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Djed Spence; Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice; Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane. Kane started England's opening match against Croatia, played all 90 minutes and scored a brace in that 4-2 win, and he is confirmed back in the side for this fixture.

Ghana line up in a 4-3-3 under Carlos Queiroz with Benjamin Asare in goal and a front three of Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew and Antoine Semenyo. Ghana's confirmed XI: Benjamin Asare; Marvin Senaya, Jonas Adjei Adjetey, Jerome Opoku, Gideon Mensah; Caleb Yirenkyi, Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo; Inaki Williams, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo. Partey was absent from Ghana's opener against Panama for off-field visa reasons but is back in the starting lineup here.

Why it matters

Both nations head into Matchday 2 level on points after winning their opening fixtures, and a win here would mathematically secure a place in the Round of 32 for either England or Ghana. That makes selection decisions — notably Kane’s inclusion for England and Partey’s return for Ghana — pivotal to how each side approaches the game tactically and in terms of squad management for Matchday 3.

Tactical notes and selection implications

England deploy a 4-2-3-1 that aims to pair Declan Rice's midfield control with Jude Bellingham's creativity in the advanced midfield trio behind Kane. The presence of Elliot Anderson alongside Rice suggests a desire to combine ball progression with defensive cover, while Reece James provides right-sided width from full-back. Kane’s recent form — two goals in the opener and a full 90 minutes — gives Thomas Tuchel a clear lead striker option for a match where a positive result will remove much of the group-stage pressure.

Ghana's 4-3-3 returns Thomas Partey to anchor the midfield, which offers added defensive stability and experience. With Inaki Williams and Jordan Ayew providing pace and directness in attack, Ghana’s setup can press for quick transitions and set-piece chances. Partey’s return after the off-field visa issue that kept him out of the Panama game is a notable boost for Carlos Queiroz as he looks to manage both defensive duties and possession phases against England.

Key points

• Harry Kane is confirmed in England’s starting XI (4-2-3-1) and led the side in the 4-2 win over Croatia, scoring twice.
• Thomas Partey returns to Ghana’s starting XI (4-3-3) after missing the Panama game due to a visa issue.
• Kickoff is at 20:00 UTC on June 23 at Boston Stadium in Foxborough; match_data records the fixture as 1st half, 0-0.
• A win for either England or Ghana would mathematically secure progression to the World Cup Round of 32.
• Managers: England — Thomas Tuchel; Ghana — Carlos Queiroz.

What it means / What happens next

If either team takes the three points, they can approach Matchday 3 with the security of qualification and the chance to rotate or rest key players. For England, securing top spot will still depend on results elsewhere, but a win here would leave them in a comfortable position. For Ghana, victory ensures momentum and the prospect of managing the final group fixture with greater flexibility. Any live developments — goals, substitutions, cards — should be checked against a live match feed to update the story beyond the 1st-half, 0-0 status captured in the provided match_data.