By Belinda Nketia
Ghana national football team final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be announced on June 1, according to Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku following Ghana’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico national football team in an international friendly at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc.
The Ghana Football Association president shared the update in a Facebook post after the match, which was played on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 8 p.m. local time in Mexico (2 a.m. GMT/Ghana time on Saturday, May 23).
“Objective accomplished,” Mr. Okraku wrote. “The World Cup squad announcement is scheduled for June 1.”
Goals from Brian Gutiérrez and Guillermo Martínez Ayala secured victory for El Tri against a youthful Ghana side made up largely of debutants and U-23 players.
The match also served as an assessment exercise for Ghana’s technical team ahead of the squad announcement.
“This presents a considerable chance for our U-23 squad to garner essential experience,” Mr. Okraku wrote. “It also offers a substantial opportunity for us to evaluate players with whom we may be less acquainted.”
The Black Stars handed senior national team debuts to several players during the game.
Accra Hearts of Oak SC goalkeeper Solomon Agbesi made his first appearance after replacing Benjamin Asare in the second half. Prince Amoako, Rak Sakyi Addo, Medeama midfielder Salim Adams, Joseph Opoku and Daniel Oduro also earned their first caps for Ghana.
New Black Stars coach Carlos Queiroz was absent for the match due to personal reasons, with assistant coach Desmond Offei leading the team from the touchline.
Ghana had previously suffered defeats in preparatory friendlies against Austria and Germany under former coach Otto Addo before facing Mexico.
The Black Stars will now shift attention to a final preparatory match against Wales national football team ahead of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
