By: Kwame Bediako
Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, says the Black Stars are fully prepared and motivated for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be staged across North America.
The minister expressed optimism about Ghana’s prospects at the global event, insisting that the team has taken lessons from past tournaments and will approach next year’s competition with renewed determination.
Ghana sealed qualification for the World Cup after finishing top of Group I in the African qualifiers.
The 2026 edition, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature an expanded 48-team format, with Ghana earning one of Africa’s nine automatic slots.
This will be the Black Stars’ fifth appearance at the global showpiece. Speaking at an event organized by Chinese car manufacturer Great Wall Motors (GWM), Kofi Adams reaffirmed his confidence in the team’s readiness and capacity to make an impact on the world stage.
“We went there [to previous World Cups] to learn, so we have learnt something and we are more than prepared for next year’s Mundial and we will come back with something great,” he stated.
Ghana’s best performance at the FIFA World Cup remains the 2010 edition in South Africa, where the team reached the quarterfinals. However, the Black Stars have struggled to replicate that success, failing to progress beyond the group stage in recent editions.
The minister’s remarks come despite recent setbacks during the team’s Asian tour, where Ghana suffered back-to-back defeats to Japan and South Korea in the Kirin Challenge Cup.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced a financial boost of GHC150 million to support the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign.
The allocation is expected to cover preparation, logistics, and bonuses as the team looks to make a strong impression on the world stage next year.
