GHANA

Ghana is a five-time World Cup participant with a best result of the 2010 quarterfinal (Asamoah Gyan, Luis Suárez, and the handball penalty that wasn't). At the 2026 World Cup, Ghana plays in Group L against England, Croatia, and Panama. Head coach Carlos Queiroz, a Portuguese (since April 2026, after Otto Addo was sacked 72 days before kickoff). The leaders: Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham), Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Antoine Semenyo, Iñaki Williams.

In 2010 in South Africa, Ghana was one minute from a historic semifinal — the first African team in the last four. In the quarterfinal against Uruguay, in extra time, Ghana earned a penalty in the 120th minute. Luis Suárez handled the ball on the line — red card. Asamoah Gyan struck the crossbar. Uruguay won the shootout 4:2. All of Africa wept. Four years later in Brazil — a group-stage collapse and internal scandals. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — another winless run, a 0:2 loss to Uruguay (revenge after 12 years).

Qualifying was dramatic. Otto Addo guided the team through CAF qualifying with 8 wins from 10, but was sacked on March 31, 2026, after a 2:1 friendly loss to Germany in Stuttgart — a fourth consecutive defeat. Queiroz, the former Portugal and Iran coach, took over two and a half months before kickoff. In Group L the main rival is England (June 23 in Boston). Matches are in Toronto (the opener on June 17 against Panama), Boston, and Philadelphia. The chance for a round of 16 is minimal due to organizational instability.

---