The Ghana national football team has officially announced a 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This tournament marks Ghana’s fifth appearance at the World Cup, following their previous participations in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022.
Their best achievement came during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when the Black Stars made history as one of the African teams to reach the quarter-finals, before being eliminated in a dramatic penalty shootout against Uruguay.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz has finalised his roster for the North American campaign, selecting a balanced mix of seasoned veterans and emerging talents.
Jordan Ayew will wear the captain’s armband. The 34-year-old forward is the most experienced player in the squad and holds the record for the most appearances in Ghana’s history, with 133 caps.
Alongside Ayew, defensive midfielder Thomas Partey is expected to play a crucial role in maintaining the team’s stability in the middle of the park.
Other key figures tipped to make a major impact include Antoine Semenyo, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Inaki Williams, all of whom bring experience from top European competitions.
However, Ghana will be without one of their star players, Mohammed Kudus. The attacking midfielder failed to make the squad as he has not yet fully recovered from an injury.
In addition to Kudus, experienced defender Alexander Djiku has also been ruled out due to fitness issues that prevent him from participating in the tournament.
At the 2026 World Cup, Ghana has been drawn into Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.
The Black Stars will kick off their campaign against Panama on 18 June in Toronto, Canada.
Six days later, they will face defending champions England in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Their final group stage match will be against Croatia on 28 June in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The competition in Group L is expected to be fierce, as only the top two teams will automatically advance to the Round of 32, while the third-placed side could still qualify through the best third-place route.
England are seen as one of the favourites to progress smoothly from Group L in the 2026 World Cup.
That optimism is shared by many supporters of the Three Lions. One of them is Eko Apriatno, Chairman of Arsenal Indonesia Supporters (AIS) Region Tangerang.
Eko has even tipped England to win the 2026 World Cup. He revealed that he has supported the Three Lions since 2000, admiring their style of play over the years.
“I like the England national team simply because I enjoy their style of play,” Eko told TribunBanten.com.
According to him, England’s biggest strength lies in their collective teamwork rather than reliance on a single star player.
“For this World Cup, I don’t think England have one key player because they rely more on team strength. But if I had to name a few, I’d say Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice,” he added.
Regarding England’s target under Thomas Tuchel’s management, Eko expressed confidence that the Three Lions can go far in the tournament.
“I’m hoping England can reach the semi-finals,” he said.
Goalkeepers:
Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen), Joseph Anang (St. Patrick's Athletic).
Defenders:
Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK), Derrick Luckassen (Pafos FC), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Marvin Senaya (Auxerre), Alidu Seidu (Rennes), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco), Nathaniel Adjei (Lorient), Alexander Djiku (OGC Nice).
Midfielders:
Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Augustine Boakye (Saint-Etienne), Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjaelland), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre).
Forwards:
Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City), Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzen), Inaki Williams (Athletic Club), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City).
(Tribunnews.com/Ali) (TribunBanten.com/Ade Feri)
