Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has raised the stakes ahead of Saturday’s Round of 32 clash against Colombia, declaring that the tournament effectively begins at the knockout stage.
Ghana face the South American side at the Kansas City Stadium on July 4, with kick-off scheduled for 01:30 GMT, as both teams battle for a place in the Round of 16.
Queiroz, who assumed the Ghana job in April 2026, pointed to his extensive World Cup pedigree as a key advantage in high-pressure matches.
“I’m fully ready. I have been in this situation [knockout football] a couple of times,” Queiroz told the media on Thursday.
“The real World Cup starts now. These are the games that count and matter,” he added.
The Portuguese coach has previously led teams at four World Cups with three different nations—Portugal (2010), Iran (2014 and 2018), and Egypt (2022)—building a reputation as a specialist in tournament football.
His arrival has brought renewed tactical discipline to the Black Stars, particularly in defence, where Ghana conceded just two goals in the group phase.
Since their memorable quarter-final run in 2010, Ghana have struggled to progress beyond the group stage at subsequent tournaments, making this knockout tie a significant opportunity to revive their World Cup fortunes.
A win over Colombia would send Ghana into the Round of 16 for the first time in 16 years and keep alive hopes of another deep tournament run.
