Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about Ghana

Get the lowdown on every team at the 2026 World Cup. Here we take a closer look at Ghana.

What can I expect from Ghana?

Even someone as long in the tooth as World Cup veteran Carlos Queiroz had to admit that taking on the Ghana job with just 65 days to go from appointment-to-opening game was the "biggest challenge" of his career.

Throughout his four decades in coaching he's been famed for tactical innovation which normally errs on the side of pragmatism. That is bound to influence his thinking given Ghana's defence has proved porous of late with the nightmare of March's 5-1 thrashing by Austria still fresh in his team's mind.

The squad seems suited to a 4-2-3-1, but the absence of key winger Mohammed Kudus is a huge blow if Queiroz planned to adopt the same tactics that formed the bedrock of his time at previous World Cups with Iran of trying to hit teams on the counter.

A huge onus will fall on the shoulders of Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo to provide a spark. Their opening match with Panama looks pivotal.

What are Ghana strengths?

Antoine Semenyo showed he was made for the big stage by taking to life under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City like a duck to water.

The Black Stars have players in attack with pace to burn that will provide crucial in counter attacks.

There are few better coaches than Queiroz in forging a siege mentality within a squad.

And what about their weaknesses?

The mouthwatering prospect of Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus on opposing wings is sadly over and key centre-backs Mohammed Salisu and Alexander Djiku are also out with injury.

Queiroz has all the experience in the world but just how well can you prepare a team for a World Cup in two months? They are down in 74th in the world for a reason after a string of poor results.

How might Ghana line up?

Which players should I look out for?

Antoine Semenyo's dream season culminated in him scoring one of the great FA Cup final goals. The two-footed winger became only the second man after Andy Cole to score 10 or more goals in all competitions for two different teams within the same Premier League season.

After being used at right-back by former coach Otto Addo, fans are hoping Carlos Queiroz frees-up 20 year-old Caleb Yirenkyi to play box-to-box from central midfield given how well he's performed in the Danish Superliga for FC Nordsjaelland.

Skipper Jordan Ayew drew level with brother Andre on 120 caps as Ghana's record cap holder versus Wales on 4 June. He scored more goals in qualifying (seven in 10) than he did for Leicester this season (six in 45).

Who is Ghana's head coach?

After Otto Addo was sacked with 72 days to go, the vastly experienced Carlos Queiroz will become the third head coach to take charge of a side at five different World Cups after Bora Milutinovic (also five) and Carlos Alberto Parreira (six).

How did Ghana qualify?

The Black Stars finished six points clear at the top of their qualifying table after eight wins from 10 (D1, L1). Jordan Ayew scored seven of their 23 goals.

Where can I watch Ghana?

All of Ghana's matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!

Give me a fact to impress my friends

Carlos Queiroz becomes only the second coach to lead a nation at five consecutive World Cups (Portugal in 2010, Iran in 2014, 2018 & 2022) joining Bora Milutinovic, who was an ever-present between 1986 and 2002.

Now give me some proper detail

As preparations for World Cups go, it is fair to say Ghana's has been far from straightforward. Missing Afcon for the first time since 2004 and a horror run of form - headlined by a 5-1 humbling to Austria in March - saw coach Otto Addo dismissed a mere 72 days before the start of the tournament.

This was not a job for the fainthearted so enter wily old stager Carlos Queiroz, who adds Ghana to a CV that includes eight other countries and managing at four previous World Cups. He's had two months and just one proper friendly to shape a squad equipped to face 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia and successive European Championships finalists England.

Not so long ago Ghana were tournament specialists, reaching six straight Afcon semi-finals from 2008-2017 and infamously coming a Luis Suarez handball away from reaching the last four of the 2010 World Cup. But this is no Golden Generation and the squad lacks a spine of world-class players.

Of the 48 teams at this World Cup only Curacao, Haiti and New Zealand have a lower ranking than the Black Stars, who sit down in 74th (as of 4 June).

But in Antoine Semenyo they have a genuine star. He arrives at the World Cup fresh from 17 Premier League goals having excelled at Bournemouth, and then winning two trophies within the first 27 matches of his Manchester City career.

How have Ghana done at previous World Cups?

The Black Stars came close to becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2010. This is their fifth World Cup appearance, all coming in the 21st century.