Former Ghana forward Majeed Waris believes proper preparation and strong mental concentration will be crucial for the Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana booked a place at the global tournament after securing qualification from Africa for the competition, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in an expanded 48-team format.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama. Ghana will begin their campaign against Panama before facing England and Croatia in their remaining group matches.
Speaking to Citi Sports, Waris expressed confidence in Ghana’s squad but insisted that focus and preparation would determine how far the team can go at the tournament.
“I wouldn’t say that because I think we have a good team to win each of those games,” he said.
“What it comes down to is the preparation and then focusing mentally because at that stage you cannot switch off even for a minute because that can turn everything around.”
The Black Stars are currently training in Cardiff ahead of their international friendly against Wales on June 2. Head coach Carlos Queiroz is overseeing preparations at Dragon Park as the team intensifies work ahead of the Mundial.
Ghana are expected to remain in Cardiff for a week before travelling to the United States for the next stage of their preparations. Queiroz will use the training camp and friendly matches to assess his squad before naming the final 26-man team for the tournament.
The 2026 competition will mark Ghana’s fifth appearance at the FIFA World Cup after previous participations in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022. The country’s best performance came in 2010 when the Black Stars reached the quarter-finals.
