Ghana World Cup 2026 Squad: Black Stars Official Guide

Ghana are back at the FIFA World Cup for the fifth time — and for millions of fans across Nigeria and West Africa, the Black Stars remain the team to follow when the tournament kicks off in June 2026. Carlos Queiroz was appointed head coach in April 2026 after Ghana’s strong CAF qualifying campaign under Otto Addo, and the experienced Portuguese manager has now unveiled his official 26-man squad for the tournament in North America. There is significant injury news: Mohammed Kudus, Ghana’s most dynamic attacker, has been ruled out through a quadriceps injury. Without their star man, Queiroz must build around collective strength — and he has the squad to do it.

This is the complete Ghana World Cup 2026 squad guide — full player list, Group L fixtures with West Africa Time kick-offs, key players to watch and the best betting angles for Nigerian fans.

Ghana’s Full 26-Man World Cup 2026 Squad

Carlos Queiroz confirmed his final 26-man squad on 1 June 2026. Kudus and Salisu are absent through injury, but the list still contains serious quality across all positions.

| Name | Position | Club |
|——|———-|——|
| Lawrence Ati-Zigi | GK | St. Gallen |
| Benjamin Asare | GK | Hearts of Oak |
| Joseph Anang | GK | St Patrick’s Athletic |
| Baba Abdul Rahman | DF | PAOK |
| Gideon Mensah | DF | Auxerre |
| Marvin Senaya | DF | Auxerre |
| Alidu Seidu | DF | Rennes |
| Abdul Mumin | DF | Rayo Vallecano |
| Jerome Opoku | DF | Istanbul Basaksehir |
| Jonas Adjetey | DF | Wolfsburg |
| Kojo Oppong Peprah | DF | Nice |
| Derrick Luckassen | DF | Pafos |
| Thomas Partey | MF | Villarreal |
| Elisha Owusu | MF | Auxerre |
| Kwasi Sibo | MF | Real Oviedo |
| Augustine Boakye | MF | Saint-Étienne |
| Caleb Yirenkyi | MF | Nordsjaelland |
| Abdul Fatawu Issahaku | MF | Leicester City |
| Jordan Ayew | FW | Leicester City |
| Antoine Semenyo | FW | Manchester City |
| Iñaki Williams | FW | Athletic Club |
| Kamaldeen Sulemana | FW | Atalanta |
| Ernest Nuamah | FW | Lyon |
| Christopher Bonsu Baah | FW | Al Qadsiah |
| Prince Kwabena Adu | FW | Viktoria Plzeň |
| Brandon Thomas-Asante | FW | Coventry City |

Group L Fixtures — WAT Kick-Off Times

Ghana are in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama. The three group games are spread across North American cities, with the Panama opener being the must-win fixture.

| Match | Date | Venue | WAT Kick-Off |
|——-|——|——-|————-|
| Ghana vs Panama | Wed 17 June | BMO Field, Toronto | 00:00 (midnight, 18 June) |
| England vs Ghana | Tue 23 June | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 21:00 |
| Croatia vs Ghana | Sat 27 June | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 22:00 |

Beat Panama and secure a point from either of the European games and Ghana have a realistic shot at reaching the round of 16. With the 2026 expanded format sending the eight best third-placed finishers through, even three or four points could be enough. For a full breakdown of how the new format works, see our World Cup 2026 format guide.

Key Players to Watch

Thomas Partey (Villarreal, Midfielder) — The captain and tactical heartbeat of the Black Stars. Partey screens the defence, drives forward and plays passes that cut through midfields. When fit, he is genuinely world-class. His performance against England on June 23 will shape Ghana’s entire campaign.

Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City, Forward) — Semenyo has emerged as Ghana’s focal striker with Kudus out. Physical, powerful and excellent in the air, he offers something different to Ghana’s more technically gifted forward options. His off-the-ball running and ability to stretch defences make him a constant threat.

Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City, Midfielder/Winger) — The 22-year-old is now Ghana’s most exciting individual attacker in Kudus’s absence. Direct, quick and capable of scoring from outside the box, Issahaku produces moments of brilliance that can change matches. He is the player to watch for an unexpected performance in a big game.

Iñaki Williams (Athletic Club, Forward) — A high-intensity runner who gave Spain one of their most difficult problems at club level for years before committing to Ghana. Williams brings Premier League-level athleticism and experience of big tournament football from 2022. He will be key on the counter.

Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta, Winger) — Pace, trickery and end product. Sulemana is most effective when Ghana have space to run into on the break — which is exactly the situation Queiroz’s defensive structure will create against stronger opposition.

Manager and Tactics

Carlos Queiroz is one of the most experienced international coaches in the game, with World Cup campaigns for Portugal, Iran, Egypt and South Africa on his record. His system is built on a compact mid/low block — Ghana will be difficult to break down and will attack quickly through the wide players when they win possession. Expect a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1 shape with Partey screening in front of a disciplined back four. Against Panama, Ghana will push higher and use the ball more. Against England and Croatia, expect a more cautious setup with a focus on set pieces and counter-attacks.

Ghana World Cup History

Ghana have five World Cup appearances: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022, and now 2026. Their best result remains the 2010 quarter-finals in South Africa, when Asamoah Gyan missed the famous penalty against Uruguay that would have sent them to the semi-finals — still the joint-best performance by any African nation in the history of the tournament. The 2026 campaign is a chance to at least match that record and take the Black Stars back to the last eight.

Betting Tips — Ghana World Cup 2026

Ghana to beat Panama (June 17) — This is Ghana’s most important fixture and the one they are expected to win. Queiroz’s sides are usually well-organised defensively and clinical on the break. Ghana to win at around 1.90 is the headline bet here, with Ghana to score first at around 2.00 offering extra value.

Ghana +1.5 Asian Handicap vs England (June 23) — England will be heavy favourites, but Ghana are compact and capable of grinding a result. Taking Ghana +1.5 on the Asian handicap, typically priced around 1.55-1.65, reduces risk and keeps you in the game.

Draw in Croatia vs Ghana (June 27) — If both teams need points in the final group game, the draw is a natural outcome that both sides might accept. Match draw at around 3.00-3.20 is worth monitoring as the group standings become clearer.

Semenyo to score anytime (tournament) — With Kudus missing, Semenyo is Ghana’s most likely goal threat from the centre. Anytime scorer across the group stage at tournament outright prices represents decent value if it is available. Compare odds across our recommended Nigerian betting sites before placing.

Responsible gambling: Betting is for entertainment only. Only bet what you can afford to lose. If betting is causing problems, contact the NLRC helpline.

Verdict — Can the Black Stars Qualify?

Ghana’s realistic path is clear: win the Panama game and protect themselves in the other two. Under Queiroz’s defensive structure, they are unlikely to be embarrassed by England or Croatia — and the expanded format means three points and a decent goal difference might be enough to sneak through as a third-placed qualifier. Kudus’s absence is significant, but the squad has enough pace and quality through Semenyo, Issahaku and Williams to trouble any side on a good day. Expect Ghana to make the knockout rounds — but it will be tight.

Responsible gambling: Betting should be for entertainment only. Only bet what you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting you, contact the NLRC helpline.