US forward #20 Folarin Balogun (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026. (PATRICK T. FALLON, AFP via Getty Images)Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States scores his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles. (Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)Cesar Samudio #12 of Panama fails to save a shot from Giovanni Reyna #7 of the United States as he scores his team's fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles. (Jamie Squire, Getty Images)US midfielder #07 Giovanni Reyna (R) scores his team's fourth goal during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026. (VALERIE MACON, AFP via Getty Images)US players celebrate the fourth goal by midfielder #07 Giovanni Reyna during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026. (VALERIE MACON, AFP via Getty Images)1 / 5
Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion
US forward #20 Folarin Balogun (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's third goal during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026. (PATRICK T. FALLON, AFP via Getty Images)
Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion
Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States scores his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles. (Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)
Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion
Cesar Samudio #12 of Panama fails to save a shot from Giovanni Reyna #7 of the United States as he scores his team's fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles. (Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion
US midfielder #07 Giovanni Reyna (R) scores his team's fourth goal during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026. (VALERIE MACON, AFP via Getty Images)
Photos reveal unforgettable World Cup action and emotion
US players celebrate the fourth goal by midfielder #07 Giovanni Reyna during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026. (VALERIE MACON, AFP via Getty Images)
“Everyone is aware because we are Ghanaians and we check the news,” Ayew said. “We want to sympathize with our people, Accra especially. It has not been an easy last couple of days for everyone.”
Ayew shared that the team has spoken together about the events in their home country. It's only fueling them to put on a strong performance.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement
“We know what is at stake tomorrow,” Ayew said. “It’s motivation for us to make our people proud and that’s the most important thing.”
Ghana has advanced past the World Cup group stage on two previous occasions, reaching the quarterfinals in 2010.