Queiroz Decries VAR Inaction After Ghana's Stalemate with England

GhanaTeam·Ghana's head coach, Carlos QueirozCoach·Carlos Queiroz, has launched a scathing critique of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, asserting that crucial decisions were overlooked during his team's goalless draw against EnglandTeam·England in a 2026 World CupCompetition·World Cup Group L match. The stalemate, played on June 23, 2026, in Foxborough, MassachusettsVenue·Foxborough, Massachusetts, saw Queiroz express profound frustration with the officiating.

Queiroz's primary contention revolves around two specific incidents he believes VAR should have intervened on: a clear penalty for GhanaTeam·Ghana and a red card offense against EnglandTeam·England. His comments, made on June 24, 2026, underscored a belief that these missed calls directly impacted the match's outcome.

"Is VAR still working? There's a penalty they should have given, and there also was a clear red card. If VAR hadn't gone for coffee, he would have awarded the penalty and we would have won the game. England were lucky. I also like to have my coffee, but it was a clear penalty."— Carlos Queiroz

The match itself was a tactical battle, with GhanaTeam·Ghana successfully implementing a strategy designed to frustrate an EnglandTeam·England side that dominated possession, holding up to 80% in the first half. Despite their territorial advantage, EnglandTeam·England struggled to convert possession into meaningful scoring opportunities. Their only shots on target arrived late in the contest, with Nico O'ReillyPlayer·Nico O'Reilly heading onto the crossbar and Harry KanePlayer·Harry Kane firing over the bar.

Queiroz lauded his players for their disciplined performance and adherence to the game plan, which ultimately secured a valuable point. This result places both GhanaTeam·Ghana and EnglandTeam·England on four points after two matches in Group L. GhanaTeam·Ghana commenced their World CupCompetition·World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama, while EnglandTeam·England secured a 4-2 win against CroatiaTeam·Croatia before the draw with GhanaTeam·Ghana.

The goalless draw significantly bolsters GhanaTeam·Ghana's prospects of advancing to the knockout stage. According to Queiroz, this tally of four points "all but assures" them a spot in the round of 32, though mathematical confirmation is still pending. Despite his strong criticism of the officiating, Queiroz also offered his "humble opinion" that EnglandTeam·England remains a strong candidate to win the World CupCompetition·World Cup.