Germany-born forward of Ghanaian heritage, Ilyas Ansah, has opted against representing the Ghana national football team at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, choosing instead to continue his progression with Germany’s youth national setup.
The 21-year-old striker, who plays for 1. FC Union Berlin, had been on the radar of the Ghana Football Association and Black Stars head coach Otto Addo in recent months as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s attacking options ahead of the tournament to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Despite the interest, Ansah has decided to remain with Germany’s U21 national team for now, stressing that his immediate priority is development at both club and youth international level.
“I’ve decided to soak up everything I’m currently experiencing at Union and continue playing for the German U21 team. After the U21 European Championship, I’ll look into it next year and make a decision. As things stand, I won’t be going to the World Cup with Ghana,” Ansah said, as quoted by tribuna.com.
The young forward has already earned six caps for Germany’s U21 side, scoring once, and is focused on establishing himself as a regular contributor at Union Berlin.
Ansah’s decision leaves the door open for a potential future switch in international allegiance, with the striker indicating he will reassess his options after the U21 European Championship next year as he continues his development within Germany’s national team structure.
