Landon Donovan, one of the most iconic figures in U.S. soccer history, has openly expressed his wish to see the United States paired with Ghana once again at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With the official draw set for Friday, December 5, 2025, anticipation is already building as qualified teams await their group-stage fate for the expanded tournament across North America.
Few World Cup rivalries involving the U.S. run as deep as their encounters with the Black Stars. The two nations have collided three times on football’s biggest stage, with Ghana claiming victory in two of those meetings, memorable wins etched into World Cup lore. Donovan personally experienced both defeats, including the painful elimination in the Round of 16 at the 2010 edition in South Africa.
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Now enjoying retirement but ever the competitor, Donovan revealed on Fox Sports that he is hoping for a chance to confront Ghana once more, driven by a lingering sense of unfinished business.
“I want to play them. I want to get over that hurdle. For my personal sake, I want some vindication,” he said as he outlined his preferred group for the USA.
Ghana’s placement in Pot 4 means that a U.S.–Ghana matchup is not only possible, but statistically very likely. Their most recent World Cup encounter came in 2014, where the United States finally broke the streak with a 2-1 victory in their opening group match in Brazil.
If Donovan’s wish comes true, the 2026 tournament could deliver yet another dramatic chapter in one of the World Cup’s most compelling cross-continental matchups.
