Ghana head coach Otto Addo has set his sights on a strong opening performance against Panama as the Black Stars prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The four-time African champions will begin their Group L campaign on June 17 in Toronto, marking their fifth appearance at the global tournament.
Panama, ranked 30th in the FIFA Men’s standings, will be making just their second World Cup appearance after debuting in 2018. Addo believes a positive start could set the tone for the rest of the group stage.
“I’m hoping that we have a good start against Panama — that will be very, very crucial,” Addo told the Ghana FA website.
“A strong start will make the other games a little more relaxed and easier for the players psychologically. We will use the March window for test matches and then assess where we are,” he added.
Ghana will later face England and Croatia, two sides with impressive recent World Cup records. England reached the final in 2018, while Croatia advanced to the semi-finals in Qatar four years later.
With back-to-back group-stage exits in 2014 and 2022 still fresh in memory, the Black Stars are determined to rewrite their story on the world stage next summer.
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