New Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has said he believes the Black Stars can make a strong impact at the 2026 World Cup despite his late appointment ahead of the tournament.
The Portuguese manager, who previously served as assistant manager at Manchester United, was appointed in April 2026 following the dismissal of Otto Addo.
Queiroz arrives with limited preparation time before the competition, which will be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico. However, the former Portugal and Iran coach has already set out the standards and expectations he wants from his squad.
Although he has not yet gathered the entire team together, Queiroz has issued a rallying message to the players as Ghana prepare for football’s biggest tournament.
“40 days to honour the pride, passion, and dreams of Ghana. Absolute focus. Maximum discipline. Total sacrifice. No distractions. No excuses. Only commitment to excellence,” he said.
The 73-year-old also challenged the players to approach the competition with confidence and ambition despite the short build-up period.
“Think big. Believe big. Be ready to deliver big,” he added.
Queiroz stressed the importance of unity and discipline within the squad, suggesting that collective commitment would be central to Ghana’s hopes at the tournament.
“Greatness is a team united on and off the pitch by discipline, sacrifice, and the relentless execution of every small detail together. Time to rise for Ghana.”
The appointment of Queiroz marks another significant change for the Black Stars as the national side seeks to improve its fortunes on the international stage.
His arrival followed the departure of Addo, who was removed from the role earlier this year. Ghana’s football authorities moved quickly to appoint an experienced replacement, turning to Queiroz, whose coaching career has included spells with several national teams as well as club football.
Despite the challenge of preparing for a World Cup within a matter of weeks, Queiroz appears eager to instil discipline and focus in the squad before the tournament begins.
The coach has already named a team for an international friendly against Mexico national football team later this month, a match expected to provide him with an opportunity to assess players and begin implementing his ideas.
Attention will then turn to the announcement of Ghana’s final World Cup squad, which is expected in early June.
The Black Stars will compete at a tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Queiroz hoping his message of sacrifice, unity and discipline can quickly shape the team before the opening matches.
With time limited before the competition starts, the experienced coach has made clear that he expects complete commitment from his players as Ghana attempt to rise to the occasion on the global stage.
