Ghana will learn their opponents on 5th December 2025 when the draw for the 23rd FIFA World Cup will be conducted.
At the prestigious John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, the USA president, FIFA president, and all the qualified nations’ envoys, except probably Iran, who, due to eeerrrmmmmm…. politics, will be present for the much-awaited draw.
With just six slots left before the 48 teams will be completed, the qualified teams are all hoping for a favourable draw that will help them stay long in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Having watched and taken note of every event at the FIFA World Cup finals since 1998, when 32 teams started competing, I know how a good draw can make you enjoy yourself even behind your television during the FIFA World Cup.
The previous World Cups before the 1998 had fewer teams, making the big boys always meet each other, which sometimes led to disastrous campaigns for most of them.
With Ghana in Pot 4, the Black Stars are no new to meeting grade A opponents in their 4 World Cup appearances. The possibility of meeting one of the favourites to lift the competition is high, but I have a wish for teams that we can express ourselves well against.
The pots for the draw
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2
The format for the draw
The draw will begin with all the teams from pot 1 being drawn to groups A to L. It will then continue with pots 2, 3 and 4 in that order.
Ghana’s opponents at the FIFA World Cup since 2006
Having witnessed all the draws for every World Cup Ghana has participated in, I must confess that the draw for the tournament is always as exciting as the competition.
Germany 2006
Group E
Italy (Pot A), Czech Republic (Pot C), United States (Pot D), Ghana (Pot B)
When Ghana was placed in the same group for the 2006 FIFA World Cup alongside the eventual winners Italy, then second-ranked team by FIFA, the Czech Republic and the USA, who had shocked Mexico in the 2002 World Cup to reach the quarter finals, we dreamed every day about the games. In school, on the streets and at home, we were eager to see how our Black Stars were going to fare against the almighty Italy and the much-rising Czech led by Pavel Nedved.
South Africa 2010
Group D
Germany (Pot 1), Australia (Pot 2), Ghana (Pot 3), Serbia (Pot 4)
In 2010, Ghana was to face the much-improved Germany, and God only knew how excited the fans for Black Stars were. Australia, after punching above its weight in the 2006 World Cup under the legendary Guus Hiddink, was ready to pose a threat in the group. Serbia, with Manchester United’s defender Nemanja Matic, was always going to be an unpredictable opponent – we were excited. Having reached the knockout stage of our maiden edition of the World Cup, Ghanaians had hopes of even upsetting Germany in 2010. The conversation was all about Joachim Löw’s side.
Brazil 2014
Group G
Germany (Pot 1), Ghana (Pot 2), USA (Pot 3), Portugal (Pot 4)
In 2014, the tournament’s favourite and eventual winners, Germany, were one of Ghana’s opponents. Portugal, led by the imperious Cristiano Ronaldo, promised an exciting match. The USA under Jurgen Klinsmann were determined to avoid a third successive defeat against Ghana after losing 2-1 in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups respectively. Ghanaians were thinking of another victory against the USA. Revenge was on our minds after knowing that Germany was in the group. Ronaldo stole the attention when a native witch doctor promised that Ronaldo was going to struggle.
Qatar 2022
Group D
Portugal (Pot 1), Uruguay (Pot 2), South Korea (Pot 3), Ghana (Pot 4)
The 2022 World Cup pitted Ghana against nemesis Uruguay with Luis Suarez still part of the team. It was revenge only on the lips of Ghanaians after Suarez denied the Black Stars the opportunity to make a record by becoming the first team from Africa to reach the semi-finals. A revenge against Portugal, who ended Ghana’s slim dream of making the knockout round in Brazil, was on the agenda as well. South Korea, with Heung Min Son as the skipper, promised to be a cagey affair, and Ghanaians were excited to face every football fan’s favourite son, Son.
Football fans have all been loving the draw for the World Cup, and I’m not an exception.
My picks for Ghana (analysis)
For the draw on 5th December, I will choose the co-host Canada from pot one for my lovely Ghana. Ranked 27th by FIFA, Jesse Marsch’s side have some quality that can cause an upset, but will not be as dangerous as Brazil, Argentina, Spain, England and France, who are also in Pot 1. Juventus’ Jonathan David, who has scored 37 goals for the national team, Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, Richie Laryea of Toronto FC, Villareal’s Tajon Buchanan, Sassuolo’s Ismael Kone, Feyenoord’s Cyle Larin and Tani Oluwaseyi of Villareal are the stars Canada boasts of and will expect to fly the flag high.
In pot 2, I will prefer Australia, who are ranked 26th by FIFA. The Socceroos do not have superstars to scare anyone, albeit they are a well-organised side and play like a team. In the 2022 World Cup, Australia qualified behind France at the expense of Denmark and Tunisia to book a fixture against eventual winners Argentina. Australia looked so scary when they went down by 2-0 – this is the threat they can pose, but must not scare Ghana. Pot 2 contains Croatia, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, and Austria. Morocco and Senegal are in the same pot, but can’t meet Ghana because they are from the same continent. Only teams from Europe can be drawn in the same group. Australia have goalkeeper Mathew Ryan of Levante, Feyernoord’s Bos Jordan, Cameron Burges of Swansea, Parma’s Allesandro Circati, Middlesbrough duo Riley McGree and Silvera Sam, and the highly rated 19-year-old Nestory Irankunda of Watford are the big-name players available for head coach Tony Popovic.
Qatar should have been my pick for Pot 3, but unfortunately cannot be in the same group with Australia, hence I will choose Panama. The 2023 CONCACAF runners-up appeared at the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2018 in Russia, where they unfortunately faced Belgium, England and Tunisia, losing all three games. They are certainly minnows but are ranked 30th by FIFA ahead of the draw. Danish head coach Thomas Christiansen has transformed the Red Tide since taking charge of the team in 2020. Their last defeat in 90 minutes was against Mexico in the Play-Offs of the CONCACAF Nations League when they lost 2-1 at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. Panama defeated El Salvador and Guatemala 3-0 and 2-0, respectively, to qualify for the showpiece in North America. Picking Panama is alright in Pot 3, although Uzbekistan will be preferred by many. Norway, Scotland, and Paraguay are also possible opponents for Ghana in the pot.
My preferred Ghana Group
Canada
Australia
Panama
Ghana
