The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has confirmed that Ghana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be announced on June 1.
The announcement follows the Black Stars’ 2-0 defeat to Mexico in an international friendly played on Saturday morning, a match Okraku said served a wider developmental purpose despite the result.
According to him, the game offered valuable exposure to several emerging players, particularly members of Ghana’s U-23 team who are preparing for upcoming Olympic qualifiers.
“Objective accomplished! This event has provided significant stage exposure for the majority of our U-23 players, who will soon assemble for the Olympic qualifiers, as well as other players who had limited playing time,” he wrote on social media.
Okraku emphasised that the fixture was deliberately used to assess less familiar faces within the national team setup and give them experience at a higher level.
“The World Cup squad announcement is scheduled for June 1st. Let’s maintain our collective support for our stars!!”
“This presents a considerable chance for our U23 squad to garner essential experience, as they are not typically involved in matches of such high stature, thereby allowing them to gain priceless exposure,” he stated.
He also noted that the technical team benefited from a closer evaluation of fringe and home-based players under competitive conditions.
“Furthermore, it offers a substantial opportunity for us to evaluate players with whom we may be less acquainted, having perhaps only previously known them through reports,” he explained.
Ghana fielded a youthful and largely experimental side against Mexico, with several new and locally based players given opportunities as preparations intensify for the global tournament.
Despite the defeat and the challenges of integrating a largely inexperienced squad on short notice, Okraku urged supporters to remain focused on the positives and the long-term development plan.
“Given the team’s limited time together, it’s clear that integrating the team’s efforts will be a challenge. Nonetheless, we will emphasize the positives from this match. Next stop – Wales,” he posted.
He further praised the young talents involved, describing them as part of a long-term project that requires patience and collective support.
“Today our emphasis is on the talented young players who have showcased impressive football skills, a team comprised of exceptional talents that require collective nurturing along our designated pathway to attain their objectives,” he added.
Ghana will now shift attention to their next friendly against Wales as preparations continue ahead of the World Cup.
The Black Stars are set to make their fifth appearance at the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, where they have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama. They will begin their campaign against Panama on June 18, before facing England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.
