Jordan Ayew, captain of the Ghana national football team, has set high expectations for the team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the squad is travelling to the competition with clear goals and not merely to participate.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Ayew stressed that the team is determined to give its best and deliver results that will make the nation proud.
“We are going to the World Cup to give our very best. We want to put on a show and, hopefully, achieve the results we are aiming for,” he said.
“We are not just going to the USA to make up the numbers.”
Ghana have been placed in Group L alongside the Panama national football team, England national football team, and Croatia national football team as the tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The four-time African champions will face England in Boston, Croatia in Philadelphia and Panama in Toronto as they aim to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Ayew also called on Ghanaians to rally behind the national team as preparations intensify, stressing that unity and belief will be key to the team’s success.
“We will stay humble and focused, and hopefully we can dream of achieving big things. We need positive energy around the team, and we will do everything we can to make the nation proud.”
As part of their preparations for the global tournament, Ghana will engage in international friendly matches against the Germany national football team and the Austria national football team this month.
The Black Stars will also face the Wales national football team in June, nine days before the World Cup officially begins.
The warm-up matches are expected to help the team fine-tune their tactics and build momentum as they prepare for another appearance on football’s biggest stage.
