Queiroz to Ghana: "Everybody Wants to Win the World Cup. The Difference Is Who Is Ready to Pay the Price"
Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz is leaning on sacrifice and hard work as Ghana steps up 2026 World Cup preparation. The Portuguese tactician has released a series of messages through the GFA's "Beyond The Whistle" campaign ahead of Group L matches against Panama, England and Croatia. Friendlies against Mexico and Wales come before the final 26 lands on June 1.
B lack Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has issued a series of motivational messages to his Ghana squad as the country steps up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The communications, released through the Ghana Football Association's "Beyond The Whistle" campaign, push a single line: World Cup success demands sacrifice that goes beyond ambition.
"The hard part is sacrificing enough"
"It's easy to dream about winning the World Cup. The hard part is sacrificing enough to achieve it," Queiroz said in the first of the GFA messages. The Portuguese tactician went on to frame the unifying pressure of the finals: "At the World Cup, players, coaches and fans all carry the same expectation: success."
The former Portugal and Real Madrid coach insisted that every nation arrives in North America chasing the same outcome but only the best-prepared sides will deliver. "Everybody wants to win the World Cup. The difference is who is ready to pay the price for it," he added, before underlining the shared ambition: "Every nation at the World Cup shares one dream, to win and succeed."
Group L: Panama, England, Croatia
Ghana have already locked in their place at the finals and were drawn into Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia. It is the Black Stars' fifth World Cup appearance, after debut runs in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022, and the first under Queiroz, who took charge of the national team during the qualifying cycle.
Friendlies and the June 1 cut
The Black Stars now move into a busy build-up window. Two pre-tournament international friendlies are scheduled against Mexico and Wales, designed to stress-test the spine of the team in different stylistic matchups before the tournament opens. Queiroz has already submitted his provisional 55-man preliminary squad to FIFA. The final 26-man roster is due by June 1, with FIFA officialising every squad on June 2.