Ghana are reportedly preparing to include three locally based players in their Black Stars squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The expanded 48-team tournament has already seen Ghana secure an automatic qualification spot, with the Black Stars drawn in a tough Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.
Ghana will begin their group campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, before facing England on June 23 in Boston, and concluding the group stage on June 27 in Philadelphia against Croatia.
Reports indicate that head coach Carlos Queiroz is considering players from the Ghana Premier League as part of his final squad selection, with three home-based players expected to make the cut.
The decision is seen as both a technical assessment of local talent and a strategic move to strengthen the squad while also recognising the growing quality of domestic football.
A key motivating factor is the FIFA Club Benefits Programme, which provides financial compensation to clubs that release players for the World Cup. Under the scheme, FIFA is expected to pay approximately 11,000 US dollars per day to clubs for each player involved in the tournament.
This means that even a group-stage participation of about three weeks could generate compensation for around 22 days for each club, offering significant financial relief to local teams operating under tight budgets.
Beyond financial considerations, the inclusion of Ghana Premier League players is also viewed as a strong endorsement of the domestic league’s growing competitiveness and talent development.
Queiroz has already submitted a provisional squad list to FIFA, with final adjustments expected closer to the tournament as preparations intensify.
