Black Stars arrive in United States as World Cup preparations enter final phase

Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars, have arrived in the United States to begin the final phase of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after concluding their training camp in Cardiff, Wales.

The team departed Wales on Wednesday, June 3, following several weeks of intensive training, tactical drills, and conditioning sessions aimed at preparing the squad for football’s biggest tournament.

The players, technical staff, and team officials are now based in Providence, Rhode Island, where they will fine-tune their preparations before the start of the competition.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz travelled with his final 26-man squad, which was officially announced on June 1 following the completion of Ghana’s European training camp. The Portuguese coach has spent recent weeks working on tactical systems, team cohesion, and overall fitness to ensure the squad is ready for the challenges ahead.

The team's arrival in the United States marks a crucial stage in Ghana’s World Cup preparations as attention shifts from training to match readiness ahead of their opening group game.

The Black Stars wrapped up their Cardiff camp with an international friendly against Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on June 2. Ghana delivered an impressive performance and appeared on course for victory after Caleb Yirenkyi scored in the second half.

However, Wales fought back late in the match, with Lewis Koumas finding the equaliser following defensive lapses by the Black Stars, resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Despite the result, the friendly provided valuable insights for Queiroz and his technical team as they continue to evaluate the squad and make final adjustments before the tournament begins.

Ghana is scheduled to play one final warm-up match against Jamaica on June 10. The encounter will serve as the team’s last competitive test before the start of their World Cup campaign.

The Black Stars will be making their fifth appearance at the FIFA World Cup and will be hoping to replicate or surpass some of their previous achievements on the global stage.

Ghana has been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia, setting up a challenging path to the knockout stages.

The four-time African champions will begin their campaign against Panama on June 17 before taking on England on June 23. Their final group-stage fixture will be against Croatia on June 27.

Having reached the quarter-finals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa — the furthest any African nation has progressed in the tournament alongside Morocco's 2022 semi-final run — Ghana will be aiming to advance beyond the group stage and make another memorable impact on the world stage.

With preparations entering the final stretch and the squad now settled in the United States, confidence is growing among supporters that the Black Stars can deliver a strong performance and make Ghana proud at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.