By Grace Zigah
The Black Stars will head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup without playing another preparatory match after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed that plans to arrange a final friendly before the tournament have effectively been shelved.
The decision means the Black Stars’ last competitive outing before their World Cup opener against Panama will remain the 1-1 draw against Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium, a match that offered head coach Carlos Queiroz an opportunity to assess his squad ahead of football’s biggest showpiece.
There had been hopes that Ghana would play one more warm-up fixture after the Wales encounter as part of efforts to fine-tune preparations for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Jamaica and Honduras were among the teams considered as possible opponents. However, negotiations failed to produce an agreement, with Honduras eventually withdrawing from discussions, leaving the Black Stars without a final preparatory game.
Confirming the development, GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum disclosed that no replacement fixture has been secured and that, barring any unexpected changes, Ghana will proceed directly into the World Cup.
“At this point, it is a big no. We don’t have any game on paper at this point. It doesn’t look likely, but I am not in the position to rule out anything yet,” Asante Twum said.
His comments suggest that while the possibility of a late-arranged match cannot be entirely dismissed, the technical team is comfortable moving forward without another international fixture.
According to Asante Twum, any decision regarding a final game would depend entirely on the assessment of head coach Carlos Queiroz and his technical staff.
He explained that if the coach felt the need for a low-intensity training match, efforts could still be made to organise one. However, he stressed that there are currently no plans in place.
“If it is that we wake up tomorrow and he wants to play maybe a mid-to-low intensity game, we will make it public. At this point, there is nothing of the sort on paper,” he stated.
The GFA spokesman also rejected suggestions that the failure to secure another friendly reflected a breakdown in planning between the football association and the technical team.
Instead, he emphasised that both parties had worked closely together throughout the preparation process and jointly agreed on the current approach.
“If the coach wants a game, we arrange. If he doesn’t need a game, we move. We told him about a second game before we played against Wales. We were all looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, and collectively we have decided to move on,” he explained.
The Black Stars recently showed encouraging signs in their draw against Wales, where FC Nordsjaelland midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored his first senior international goal before the hosts grabbed a late equaliser.
That performance provided valuable insights for Queiroz, who is preparing Ghana for what many observers regard as one of the toughest groups at the tournament.
Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia.
The Black Stars will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field in Toronto before facing England at Gillette Stadium on June 23. They will conclude the group phase against 2018 FIFA World Cup finalists Croatia on June 27.
The upcoming tournament marks Ghana’s fifth appearance at the FIFA World Cup following previous participations in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022.
The Black Stars’ greatest achievement remains the historic quarter-final run in South Africa in 2010, when they came within a penalty shootout of becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.
Having suffered group-stage exits in Brazil and Qatar, Carlos Queiroz and his squad are determined to restore Ghana’s standing on the world stage and secure a place in the knockout rounds for the first time in 16 years.
