Black Stars training, World Cup 2026 planning

Ghana’s Black Stars spent the past week in Cardiff for their final on-field build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, using a training camp and a June 2 friendly against Wales to shape the squad and sharpen combinations. The Ghana Football Association said the team opened camp on May 25 and trained at Dragon Park before traveling on to the United States. Coach Carlos Queiroz named a 28-man squad for the camp and friendly, with FIFA’s final submission deadline set for June 1. (ghanafa.org) The camp was also Ghana’s last concentrated evaluation window before the tournament begins. (ghanafa.org) The GFA said Queiroz would use the Cardiff period to assess players before confirming the final 26-man World Cup list. Ghana are in Group L with Panama, England and Croatia. ### Why was Ghana in Cardiff before the World Cup? Cardiff was the site of Ghana’s pre-tournament camp and a scheduled international friendly against Wales on June 2. The GFA said the Black Stars would train there for one week before traveling to the United States for the World Cup. (ghanafa.org) The May 25 camp opening began with 13 players at Dragon Park, including Jordan Ayew, Ernest Nuamah, Gideon Mensah and Benjamin Asare, with more arrivals expected over the following days. The GFA presented the Wales match as part of Ghana’s immediate World Cup preparation program. (ghanafa.org) ### How did the squad fill up over the week? Tuesday’s training in Cardiff featured 16 players after Baba Abdul Rahman, Paul Reverson and Christopher Bonsu Baah joined camp, according to the GFA. By Thursday, the number had risen to 22 after Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Abdul Mumin, Kwasi Sibo, Jonas Adjetey and Prince Kwabena Adu arrived. (ghanafa.org) Saturday’s session took the total to 24 when Thomas Partey and Inaki Williams reported to camp. On June 1, Antoine Semenyo joined the squad, bringing the number in Wales to 25, the GFA said. (ghanafa.org) ### Which players and returns stood out in Queiroz’s plans? Carlos Queiroz’s 28-man camp squad included five goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards, the GFA said. The call-ups brought back Baba Abdul Rahman for the first time since September 2023 and returned Ernest Nuamah, Abdul Mumin, Augustine Boakye and Alidu Seidu after injury layoffs. (ghanafa.org) The same squad also included Ajax youngster Paul Reverson for what the GFA described as further assessment with a long-term view. (ghanafa.org) In attack, the group was led by Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew, while Partey added senior experience in midfield. ### What did the camp say about Ghana’s selection process? FIFA’s deadline for final World Cup squad submissions was June 1, and the GFA said Ghana would submit 26 players by that date. That made the Cardiff camp more than a fitness block: it was the last formal sorting period before the tournament squad was locked in. (ghanafa.org) The GFA’s daily camp updates tracked the player count closely — 13, then 16, 22, 24 and 25 — underscoring that arrivals and training time were part of the final selection picture. The Wales friendly gave Queiroz one last match setting before Ghana’s opening World Cup fixture. (ghanafa.org) ### What comes next for the Black Stars? Ghana face Panama in their opening Group L match on June 17 in Toronto, according to the GFA. The team then plays England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia in its remaining group matches. (ghanafa.org) The final squad list was due to FIFA on June 1, and the Wales friendly on June (ghanafa.org 1) (ghanafa.org 2)