Lightning doesn’t strike twice. But Swedish referees? And cursed World Cup runs?
On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 37-year-old Glenn Nyberg from Sweden will take charge of Ghana vs Panama at Toronto Stadium.
And that detail should make Black Stars fans nervous.
Because the last time a Swede held the whistle in a Ghana World Cup match, the night ended in tears. Brazil 2014. Ghana 1, United States 2. The referee that day: Jonas Eriksson, also Swedish. Clint Dempsey scored after 29 seconds. John Brooks scored a late winner. Ghana walked off with nothing.
Now, 12 years later, a second Swede steps into Ghana’s World Cup story.
Ghana’s 12 Years of Disaster – The Scars Run Deep
Since that night in Natal:
1. 2014 Brazil Meltdown: Bottom of the group. Muntari & Boateng expelled. $3m cash flown by plane. Humiliation.
2. 2018 No Show: Failed to qualify. First miss since 2002.
3. 2022 Qatar Revenge Gone Wrong: Group exit. Suárez laughs, Ayew misses a penalty.
4. AFCON Collapse: No title since 1982. R16 exits 2019, 2021. Group disaster 2023.
5. 2026 Build-Up Chaos: Partey’s visa was denied for Canada. Kudus was ruled out injured.
12 years. 3 World Cups. 1 win, 2 draws, 4 losses. Zero knockouts.
But Wait – Queiroz Has His Own 12-Year World Cup Curse
Carlos Queiroz isn’t innocent in this story of pain. His last 12 years are also haunted:
1. 2014 Brazil: Iran coach. Bottom of the group with Argentina, Nigeria, and Bosnia. 1 point. No wins. Group stage exit.
2. 2018 Russia: Iran again. Beat Morocco 1-0, but drew Portugal and lost to Spain. 4 points, but eliminated on goal difference.
Heartbreak.
3. 2022 Qatar: Iran again. Beat Wales 2-0, but lost 6-2 to England and 1-0 to the USA amid political protests. Group stage exit. Booed by own fans.
4. 2022 Fallout: Sacked by Iran. Took an Egypt job. Lost AFCON final on penalties. Failed to qualify Egypt for Qatar 2022.
Sacked again.
5. 2024 Oman: Last job before Ghana. No major tournaments. Career looked over.
12 years. 3 World Cups as a coach. 0 knockout rounds. All with Iran. Now he leads Ghana, appointed in April 2026 after Otto Addo was fired.
Nyberg, born in 1988, is one of UEFA’s rising officials. Champions League nights. Europa League knockouts. But this will be his first time handling Ghana on the world’s biggest stage.
The omen is stacked: Sweden 1, Ghana 0 in World Cup referee books. Queiroz is 0-for-3 in World Cup knockouts since 2014.
Carlos Queiroz’s men face Panama at 6 pm ET in Toronto, knowing three points are non-negotiable. The 73-year-old is at his fifth straight World Cup – matching Bora Milutinović’s record – but he’s never gone past the group since Portugal 2010.
After Spain’s 0-0 stumble vs Cape Verde, Group L is chaos. Ghana can’t afford two curses to collide.
Can Queiroz bury his 12-year World Cup ghosts and Ghana end theirs with Nyberg? Or will the Swedish whistle and double disaster strike again?
Match Details
Ghana vs Panama
2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage
Wednesday, June 17 | Toronto Stadium
Referee: Glenn Nyberg, Sweden
