Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz is poised to enter the record books when the Black Stars begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
The 73-year-old will oversee a team at a fifth consecutive World Cup, matching a landmark achievement previously set by renowned coach Bora Milutinović. The milestone comes as Queiroz leads Ghana into Group L, extending a sequence of appearances that began with Portugal at the 2010 tournament.
After coaching Portugal in South Africa, Queiroz went on to guide Iran at three successive World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022. His appearance with Ghana this year means he will equal Milutinović’s record of managing teams at five consecutive tournaments, a feat the Serbian achieved between 1986 and 2002 while leading five different national sides.
Only Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has appeared at more World Cups, having managed at six editions of the tournament, although those appearances were not consecutive.
Queiroz’s presence in Canada was far from certain just a few months ago. The experienced coach had not been expected to take part in the tournament until Ghana turned to him in April following the dismissal of Otto Addo.
Addo had guided Ghana through qualification but was removed from his position in March after a disappointing sequence of friendly match results, opening the door for Queiroz to make an unexpected return to football’s biggest stage.
Before Ghana’s approach, it appeared the Portuguese coach’s lengthy managerial career may have reached its conclusion. His most recent role had been with Oman, the eighth national team he had managed during a career spanning several decades.
Queiroz’s coaching journey has taken him across club and international football, including spells at some of the sport’s most prominent institutions. He served as head coach of Real Madrid and also worked as assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Known for a detailed and analytical approach to coaching, Queiroz has earned recognition for his tactical expertise. However, his touchline behaviour has often attracted attention, with his animated presence creating sharply differing opinions among observers.
One of his most notable critics was former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, who once remarked: “I felt he had the personality of a dead fly when I worked with him.”
Despite such criticism, Queiroz remains a highly respected figure in his native Portugal, where he is widely credited with helping to shape the country’s football development system.
Last month, Portuguese sports newspaper A’Bola highlighted his influence on the game beyond immediate results.
“In a country where greatness is so often measured by the result of the next match, Queiroz deserves to be remembered for something deeper – the construction of a culture that still endures of bringing the knowledge of universities to the pitch and, thus, contributing to Portugal being recognised as a training ground for elite footballers,” the daily sports newspaper A’Bola commented last month.
Queiroz first rose to prominence when he guided Portugal to consecutive FIFA Under-20 World Cup titles in 1989 and 1991. During that period, he helped nurture a generation of players that included Luís Figo, Paulo Sousa and João Pinto, figures who would later become central to Portugal’s success on the international stage.
Now, after more than four decades in football, Queiroz is aiming to add another chapter to his career by leading Ghana at the World Cup.
When he accepted the role earlier this year, he expressed confidence in the experience he could bring to the challenge.
“I am prepared for this,” he said when he accepted the job. “I bring 40 years of experience to every decision that will be made.”
As Ghana prepare to face Panama in their opening Group L fixture, Queiroz’s latest World Cup appearance will not only place him alongside some of the tournament’s most accomplished coaches but also provide another opportunity to leave his mark on the global game.
