Colombia vs Ghana: Result, Stats & Predictions (World Cup 2026)
Jhon Arias scored in the 14th minute as Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 to reach the World Cup Round of 16 with their third clean sheet.
3 July 2026
Result
Colombia secured a straightforward 1-0 victory over Ghana at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City to advance to the World Cup Round of 16. Jhon Arias scored the only goal with a side-foot finish after 14 minutes, converting a cross from the left. Colombia controlled the match throughout, ending with 20 attempts on goal to Ghana's eight. Ghana failed to register a single shot on target. Colombia face Switzerland in Vancouver on July 7.
What it means for Last Man Standing pools
Colombia were a sensible pick in the Round of 32 and they delivered. They have now won four consecutive World Cup matches against African nations, all by a single goal, which is almost a template at this point. The 1-0 scoreline looks comfortable in hindsight, but pool players would have been watching closely — Colombia conceded late in several group stage games. Switzerland await in the next round: a significantly harder test for anyone considering picking Colombia as they go deeper.
Pre-match forecasts
Colombia were clear favourites, with Opta's pre-match model giving them a 68.9% chance of winning, Ghana 15.2%, and a draw at 19.5%. That roughly two-thirds probability reflected Colombia's superior group stage performances and the historical record between South American and African sides in World Cup knockout rounds. The result matched the forecasts precisely — Colombia were the better side from the first whistle and never looked like conceding. Ghana created little of note, which their zero shots on target confirms.
Standout stats
Jhon Arias' goal arrived at the 13 minutes and 49 seconds mark — the second-earliest goal scored by a Colombian player in World Cup history, per Opta data. Only Pablo Armero's fifth-minute strike against Greece in 2014 came sooner. Colombia also recorded their third consecutive clean sheet at the tournament, the first time they have achieved that in World Cup history. Their defensive record throughout the competition has been exceptional: 20 attempts conceded across four matches, with goalkeepers and defenders rarely troubled. Colombia have now reached the last 16 in each of their last three World Cup appearances.
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