Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku has confirmed that the Black Stars’ squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be officially announced on June 1.
He made the announcement following Ghana’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico in a pre-World Cup friendly on Saturday morning.
Despite the result, Okraku insisted the match achieved its intended objectives, particularly in giving exposure to emerging talents and members of the U-23 team preparing for 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.
He further confirmed the timeline for the World Cup selection process.
“The World Cup squad announcement is scheduled for June 1st. Let’s maintain our collective support for our stars!!”
Okraku explained that the match provided a valuable opportunity for the technical team to assess fringe and unfamiliar players in a competitive environment.
“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 noted.
He also highlighted the importance of evaluating players who are not regularly seen in the senior national team setup.
“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 added.
Ghana fielded a youthful side against Mexico, with several fringe and home-based players given the chance to impress ahead of the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Okraku acknowledged the challenge of integrating a largely inexperienced squad but urged supporters to focus on the positives.
“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 said.
He also praised the young players in the squad, stressing the need for long-term development and 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 turn attention to their next friendly against Wales as preparations continue for the World Cup, where the Black Stars will compete in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia.
