Ghana defender Alidu Seidu has expressed his pride after the Black Stars secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.
The Black Stars confirmed their place at the global showpiece with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Comoros at the Accra Sports Stadium, finishing top of Group I to book their ticket to the tournament.
Their qualification came as redemption following a disappointing 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign, which saw Ghana fail to qualify for the continental showpiece for the first time in two decades. Under Otto Addo’s leadership, the team bounced back impressively to deliver a perfect response to critics.
Ghana ended the qualifiers with 25 points from 10 matches, six points ahead of second-placed Madagascar (19 points), while Mali (18 points), Comoros (15 points), and Central African Republic (8 points) followed in that order. Chad finished bottom with just one point.
Speaking after the qualification, Seidu—who returned to the squad after recovering from a long-term injury—reflected on the challenging journey but expressed gratitude for being part of the success story.
“The road hasn't always been smooth, but I've always given my all for Ghana. Honoured to be part of this team heading to the 2026 World Cup,” Seidu shared.
The 2026 World Cup will mark Ghana’s fifth appearance at the global tournament and the sixth straight edition Africa’s four-time champions have qualified for. The event will also feature an expanded 48-team format, giving the African continent nine automatic slots for the first time.
Ghana, who first qualified for the 2006 World Cup, made a historic quarterfinal run in South Africa in 2010 and have since appeared in 2014 and 2022, missing only the 2018 edition in Russia.
The Black Stars will now await the official World Cup draw on December 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C., where they will discover their group-stage opponents as preparations begin for another campaign on football’s biggest stage.
