Carlos Queiroz is expected to unveil the provisional squad for Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup later this week as the Black Stars intensify preparations for the tournament in North America.
The Portuguese coach, who was appointed on a short-term basis after Otto Addo’s departure, is set to announce an initial list of players before reducing the squad to the final 26-man selection ahead of FIFA’s June 1 deadline.
Ghana will compete at the expanded 48-team World Cup, which is being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia in what is expected to be a demanding group campaign.
Under FIFA regulations, every qualified nation must first submit a provisional squad before confirming their final selections for the tournament.
Queiroz now faces the challenge of putting together a squad capable of improving Ghana’s recent World Cup record and restoring confidence after disappointing performances in previous editions of the competition.
As part of their preparations, Ghana are scheduled to play two international friendly matches before the tournament begins. The Black Stars will first take on Mexico later this month before facing Wales on 2 June in their final warm-up fixture.
Ghana’s World Cup journey will begin on 17 June against Panama in Toronto. They will then meet England in Boston on 23 June before concluding the group stage with a match against Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June.
The upcoming tournament will mark Ghana’s fifth appearance at the FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars previously competed in the finals in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022.
Their most successful campaign came in South Africa in 2010 when they reached the quarter-finals and came close to becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals of the competition. That run remains one of the most memorable moments in the nation’s football history.
However, Ghana have struggled to replicate that achievement in recent tournaments. The team suffered group-stage eliminations at both the 2014 and 2022 World Cups, increasing pressure on the national side to deliver a stronger performance in 2026.
The expanded format of the tournament presents both opportunities and challenges for participating nations, with more teams involved and a larger number of matches taking place across three host countries.
For Queiroz, the provisional squad announcement will offer the first clear indication of the direction he intends to take with the Black Stars ahead of the tournament. Attention is expected to focus on which experienced players are retained and whether new faces will be included as Ghana attempt to build a squad capable of competing against some of the world’s leading football nations.
The warm-up matches against Mexico and Wales are also expected to play a key role in helping the coaching staff assess player fitness, tactical options and squad balance before the final list is confirmed.
With the countdown to the World Cup continuing, expectations among Ghana supporters are growing that the Black Stars can produce a more competitive display on the global stage and avoid another early exit from the tournament.
