Carlos Queiroz named his final Ghana World Cup Squad 2026 ahead of the June 1 deadline, and the big story is who’s missing. Mohammed Kudus, the man whose goal sealed qualification, is ruled out injured. Jordan Ayew captains the Black Stars into a tough Group L with England, Croatia, and Panama.
Queiroz is 73 and heading to his fifth straight World Cup as a coach. His squad leans young, with an average age near 26 and a strong Ligue 1 core of six players. Antoine Semenyo and Iñaki Williams lead a quick, direct attack. This is Ghana’s fifth World Cup, and their second in a row after Qatar 2022.
This is your full Ghana squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Ghana 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Benjamin Asare | Accra Hearts of Oak | 33 |
| GK | Lawrence Ati-Zigi | St. Gallen | 29 |
| GK | Joseph Anang | St Patrick’s Athletic | 26 |
| DF | Baba Abdul Rahman | PAOK | 31 |
| DF | Gideon Mensah | Auxerre | 27 |
| DF | Marvin Senaya | Auxerre | 25 |
| DF | Alidu Seidu | Rennes | 26 |
| DF | Abdul Mumin | Rayo Vallecano | 28 |
| DF | Jerome Opoku | İstanbul Başakşehir | 27 |
| DF | Jonas Adjetey | Wolfsburg | 22 |
| DF | Kojo Oppong Peprah | Nice | 22 |
| DF | Derrick Luckassen | Pafos FC | 30 |
| MF | Elisha Owusu | Auxerre | 28 |
| MF | Thomas Partey | Villarreal | 32 |
| MF | Kwasi Sibo | Real Oviedo | 27 |
| MF | Augustine Boakye | Saint-Étienne | 25 |
| MF | Caleb Yirenkyi | Nordsjælland | 20 |
| MF | Abdul Fatawu Issahaku | Leicester City | 22 |
| MF | Kamaldeen Sulemana | Atalanta | 24 |
| FW | Christopher Bonsu Baah | Al Qadisiah | 21 |
| FW | Ernest Nuamah | Lyon | 22 |
| FW | Antoine Semenyo | Manchester City | 26 |
| FW | Brandon Thomas-Asante | Coventry City | 27 |
| FW | Prince Kwabena Adu | Viktoria Plzeň | 22 |
| FW | Iñaki Williams | Athletic Club | 31 |
| FW | Jordan Ayew (C) | Leicester City | 34 |
(C) = captain. Final 26-man squad as confirmed on June 1, 2026. Ages as of June 11, 2026.
For all 48 team final 26-man list, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here are the numbers that define Queiroz’s group.
- Average age: 26.4 years
- Captain: Jordan Ayew (Leicester City)
- Most-capped player: Jordan Ayew (more than 110 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Jordan Ayew (33 international goals)
- Ligue 1 players: 6 (Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya and Elisha Owusu at Auxerre; Alidu Seidu, Rennes; Kojo Oppong Peprah, Nice; Ernest Nuamah, Lyon)
- Premier League players: 3 (Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City; Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Leicester City)
- Youngest player: Caleb Yirenkyi (20)
- Oldest player: Jordan Ayew (34)
Key Players to Watch
Antoine Semenyo, Manchester City
Semenyo is Ghana’s form player and their biggest threat. He lit up the Premier League at Bournemouth, then earned a January move to Manchester City. He scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final against Chelsea in May. He’s fast, powerful, and direct, and he carries the ball at pace. At 26 he is the man Ghana build their attack around.
Iñaki Williams, Athletic Club
Williams gives Ghana relentless running and experience up front. The Athletic Club forward switched his allegiance from Spain to Ghana in 2022 and has become an emotional leader. He stretches defences with his pace and presses from the front. His movement drags centre-backs around and creates space for others.
Jordan Ayew (C), Leicester City
Ayew captains the side and offers know-how at 34. He topped Ghana’s qualifying charts with seven goals and sits among the country’s all-time leading scorers on 33. The Leicester man works the channels, holds the ball up, and links play. This is his third World Cup, and his leadership matters in a young group.
Thomas Partey, Villarreal
Partey is the anchor of the midfield and the most experienced head in the engine room. The former Arsenal man shields the back four, breaks up play, and starts attacks with clean passing. He assisted the winner that sealed qualification. At 32 he sets the tempo and steadies the team in big moments.
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Leicester City
Issahaku is the wide spark Ghana need at just 22. The Leicester winger beats defenders one on one and scores spectacular goals from distance. He plays on either flank and loves to cut inside onto his stronger foot. He gives Queiroz width and unpredictability in the final third.
Ernest Nuamah, Lyon
Nuamah is the comeback story of this squad at 22. The Lyon forward returned from a serious knee injury to make the cut. He’s quick, brave, and direct, and he adds a different gear off the bench. His recovery gives Ghana extra firepower in a deep attacking group.
Ghana World Cup 2026 Schedule
Ghana play one group match in Canada and two in the United States. Kick-off times appear in Eastern Time (ET) and Ghana’s local GMT for fans back home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (GMT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 17, 2026 | Panama | Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto | 7:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| June 23, 2026 | England | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough | 4:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| June 27, 2026 | Croatia | Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field), Philadelphia | 5:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
All kick-off times follow the official FIFA match schedule, and Group L positions were confirmed at the December 5, 2025 draw. Ghana open against Panama in Toronto, the game they must win, before two heavyweight European tests.
The Black Stars warmed up against Wales in Cardiff on June 2, then moved their camp to Washington to finish preparations. You can track every fixture in our full tournament schedule.
How Ghana Qualified for World Cup 2026
Ghana won CAF Group I to claim one of Africa’s nine automatic places. They shared the group with Mali, Madagascar, Comoros, Central African Republic, and Chad. The Black Stars won eight of their 10 qualifiers, drew one, and lost one. They conceded just six goals, the joint-best defensive record in the group.
The campaign came down to the final round in October 2025. Ghana beat Comoros 1-0 to seal top spot and the ticket to North America. Mohammed Kudus scored the only goal two minutes after half time, set up by a clever pass from Thomas Partey, as confirmed by the Ghana Football Association.
Jordan Ayew led the scoring in qualifying with seven goals. The result sent Ghana to a fifth World Cup and a second in a row after Qatar 2022. Madagascar finished second but missed out as one of the weaker runners-up across the African groups.
Head Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Queiroz is a 73-year-old Portuguese coach who took the Ghana job on April 13, 2026. He replaced Otto Addo, who left after friendly defeats to Austria and Germany in March. Ghana picked Queiroz from a long list of candidates, just weeks before the tournament.
Few coaches carry his World Cup résumé. Queiroz guided Portugal to the knockout phase in 2010, then led Iran at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments. He also qualified South Africa for the 2002 finals. Ghana will be his fifth straight World Cup on the touchline, a rare record for any coach.
Queiroz favours a disciplined, organised setup built on a back four and quick transitions. He wants Ghana hard to beat first, then dangerous through Semenyo, Williams, and the wingers. His short runway is the worry, since he has had little time to drill his ideas before kick-off.
Group L at a Glance
Ghana sit in Group L with England, Croatia, and Panama. The group runs June 17 to 27. The top two advance to the round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 4 | 16 | Winner (1966) |
| Croatia | 11 | 6 | Runner-up (2018) |
| Panama | 33 | 1 | Group stage (2018) |
| Ghana | 74 | 4 | Quarterfinals (2010) |
This is a hard draw for the lowest-ranked side in the group. England are among the favourites and Croatia remain a tournament team with deep know-how. Ghana’s path likely runs through Panama, the side they should target for points. Queiroz must spring a result against one of the European pair to reach the knockouts. See our full Group L breakdown for the head-to-head picture.
FAQ about Ghana World Cup Squad 2026
What is Ghana’s nickname?
Ghana are known as the Black Stars. The name comes from the black star on the national flag, a symbol of African freedom. It traces back to the Black Star Line shipping company founded by Marcus Garvey.
Who is Ghana’s all-time leading scorer?
Asamoah Gyan is Ghana’s record scorer with 51 international goals. He starred at the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups but retired from the national team in 2019. He is not part of the 2026 squad.
Have Ghana and England played before?
The two nations have met just once, a 1-1 friendly at Wembley in 2011. They have never faced each other at a World Cup. Their June 23 meeting in Foxborough will be the first competitive game between them.
What colours does Ghana wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Ghana traditionally wear a white home shirt, drawing on the red, gold, and green of the national flag. The away kit is usually red or black. The black star sits at the centre of the crest.
Ghana’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Ghana World Cup Squad 2026 is young, quick, and built around a dangerous attack. Semenyo and Williams give the Black Stars real pace, Partey and Ayew bring the experience, and the Ligue 1 core knows how to defend. Losing Kudus hurts the creativity, so others must step up in the final third.
Group L is unforgiving, and Ghana is the outsider, but the knockout rounds are not out of reach. Beat Panama, take something off England or Croatia, and a third-place finish could be enough to advance. Queiroz has done more with less before, and this team could surprise a few people.
