Ghana’s senior national team is set for a major technical overhaul following the appointment of Carlos Queiroz as head coach ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The experienced Portuguese tactician is expected to arrive in the country alongside a five-member backroom team, signalling a fresh direction for the Black Stars as they intensify preparations for the global tournament. His appointment comes after the departure of Otto Addo, who was relieved of his duties after back-to-back friendly defeats against Austria and Germany in March.
Queiroz’s arrival is already prompting significant changes within the technical structure. At the Ghana Football Association, technical advisor and director of football Winfried Schäfer has reportedly been dismissed, while former Black Stars defender John Paintsil has also exited his role as high-performance coach. Further adjustments are expected as space is created for the incoming technical team.
The 73-year-old coach is anticipated to be officially unveiled later this week, after which he will be formally presented to the Minister of Sports, Kofi Adams, in line with standard procedure.
Attention will quickly shift to on-field preparations, with Ghana scheduled to engage Mexico and Wales in international friendlies on June 2 as part of their final build-up to the World Cup.
Drawn in Group L, the Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, before taking on England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.
Queiroz brings a wealth of World Cup experience, having previously guided South Africa to qualification in 2002, led Portugal to the knockout stage in 2010, and managed Iran at the 2014 and 2018 tournaments. His appointment is widely seen as a move to inject tactical discipline and stability into the team as Ghana aims to improve on its recent World Cup performances.
