Ghana have begun preparations in Cardiff ahead of next week’s international friendly against the Wales national football team as head coach Carlos Queiroz steps up plans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Black Stars opened camp on Monday at Dragon Park, where an initial group of 13 players took part in training sessions under the supervision of the Portuguese coach and his technical staff.
More members of the squad are expected to join the camp on Tuesday as Ghana continue preparations for the friendly scheduled for 2 June in Cardiff.
Among the players involved in Monday’s session were Ernest Nuamah, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Jordan Ayew, Caleb Yirenkyi and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
The group also included Elisha Owusu, Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya, Jerome Opoku, Benjamin Asare, Joseph Anang, Solomon Agbasi and Alidu Seidu.
Ghana are expected to remain in Cardiff for a week before departing for the United States to continue preparations for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The training camp is likely to play an important role in determining the composition of Ghana’s final squad for the tournament.
Queiroz is expected to use the period to assess players before naming the final travelling party for the competition. Under tournament regulations, participating nations must submit their official 26-man squads to FIFA by Monday, 1 June.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside the Panama national football team, the England national football team and the Croatia national football team.
Ghana will begin their campaign against Panama in Toronto on 17 June before facing England and Croatia in their remaining group-stage fixtures.
The friendly against Wales is expected to provide Queiroz with an opportunity to evaluate combinations and fitness levels ahead of the tournament opener.
It also offers players one final chance to impress the coaching staff before the World Cup squad is finalised.
Preparations for the tournament come with heightened expectations as Ghana seek to make an impact in a challenging group containing experienced European opposition and a Panama side also aiming to advance beyond the opening phase.
For Queiroz, the Cardiff camp represents the beginning of the final stage of preparation before the Black Stars travel to North America for football’s biggest competition.
