New Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz says leading Ghana to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is more than a career move — it is a return to his African roots.
“I have strong African roots, being born and raised in Mozambique, so the prospect of leading Ghana — a powerhouse of the continent — to the World Cup is truly unforgettable,” Queiroz said in his first address to Ghanaians. “It is not just another job; it is a homecoming to the soil where I was born. This is not just another job — it is a mission. And I am ready to give everything of my experience and knowledge once again, in service of the game and the happiness of people.”
The Ghana Football Association confirmed Queiroz’s appointment Monday, handing the 73-year-old Portuguese the reins just two months before the tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026. He replaces Otto Addo, who was dismissed in March after friendly defeats to Austria and Germany.
‘A mission to serve Ghana’s talent and pride’
Born in Angoche, Portuguese Mozambique, in 1953, Queiroz said he arrives “with respect for [Ghana’s] history and belief in its future”.
“Ghana is a nation of talent, pride, and footballing soul,” he wrote. “Together, with unity, discipline, and ambition, we will work to honour the expectations of a great football nation.”
The GFA said Queiroz was selected from more than 600 local and foreign applicants because of his “extensive World Cup experience”. His mandate begins immediately, with the coach expected to arrive in Ghana this week alongside five backroom staff to oversee a restructuring of the technical setup.
A World Cup veteran with global pedigree
Queiroz brings one of the deepest World Cup résumés in international football. He qualified South Africa for the 2002 tournament, guided his native Portugal to the knockout stage in 2010, and led Iran at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions.
His club and international career spans four decades and multiple continents: assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, head coach of Real Madrid, and national team boss for Colombia, Egypt, Qatar, Japan, the UAE and, most recently, Oman. He stepped down from Oman last month after the side failed to qualify for 2026.
Tactically, Queiroz is known for disciplined, structured systems — typically 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 — built on defensive organisation, compact shape and game management.
The road to North America
Ghana has been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama. The Black Stars open their campaign against Panama on June 17, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, before facing England outside Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia. Warmup fixtures are scheduled against Mexico on May 22 and Wales on June 2.
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment. Ghana reached the quarter-finals in 2010 — still the last African nation to go that far — but exited in the group stage in 2014 and 2022. With “mounting pressure both on and off the pitch” and injury concerns in the squad, Queiroz will have limited time to impose his methods.
Yet for the former goalkeeper from Mozambique, the assignment transcends tactics and results.
“Football has given me a lifetime of challenges, lessons, and unforgettable journeys, all over the world,” Queiroz said. “Today, I accept this mission with the same passion and commitment that have guided me throughout my career.”
At a glance: Carlos Queiroz
- Age: 73, born March 1, 1953 in Angoche, Portuguese Mozambique • Previous roles: Real Madrid, Manchester United (assistant), Portugal, Iran, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, South Africa, Colombia, Japan • World Cup record: Qualified South Africa 2002; Portugal R16 2010; Iran 2014, 2018, 2022 • Ghana target: 2026 World Cup, Group L vs. Panama, England, Croatia
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