Ghana is anticipating the arrival of Black Stars' new head coach Carlos Queiroz in a few days. The appointment of the Portuguese coach comes after the dismissal of Otto Addo on Monday, March 30, following Ghana’s poor performance in the international friendlies against Austria and Germany.

The coach is expected to arrive with five members of his technical team as preparations intensify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. To make room for the new technical team, the technical advisor and director of football, Winfried Schäfer, has reportedly been relieved of his duties, and assistant coach John Paintsil.

Also, several other existing staff members who served in roles during Otto Addo’s tenure have been dismissed to accommodate the new team of Queiroz’s new team.

According to the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Communications Director, Asante Twum, speaking on Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show on Tuesday, April 15, indicated that the association has begun making arrangements for the veteran tactician to formally present his vision for the senior national team after his official unveiling within the week. Following that, he will be taken to the Sports Minister Kofi Adams for a formal introduction as part of official protocol.

His first assignment, as a stop-gap appointment following his arrival in Ghana, will be to oversee the upcoming international friendly against Mexico. Preparations will then continue with a final test against Wales on June 2 as part of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ghana, preparing for their fifth appearance at the World Cup, have been drawn in Group L. The Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.

After successive group-stage exits in Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022, Queiroz faces the challenge of restoring belief and guiding the team to a more competitive show on football’s biggest stage.

With extensive World Cup experience, having led South Africa to qualification for the 2002 edition, guided Portugal to the Round of 16 in 2010, and managed Iran in 2014 and 2018, Queiroz is expected to bring stability and improved performance to a Ghana side seeking to avoid early exits after disappointing campaigns in 2014 and 2022.

He has signed a short-term deal (four months) to lead the team through the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, after three high-profile coaches were interviewed on April 10, 2026, before he was selected.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will not sponsor the travel of supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup to prevent unnecessary pressure on the already strained public purse.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will not sponsor the travel of supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup to prevent unnecessary pressure on the already strained public purse.

Speaking at the Ghana World Cup fundraising campaign on Friday, March 20, at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, the President noted that the decision has been informed by recommendations from the Dzamefe Report, which advised the government to discontinue sponsoring fans to such tournamnets using taxpayers' money.

“In consonance with the Dzamefe Report, the government has no plans to allocate public funds to fly supporters to the World Cup,” he said.

It was an investigative report prepared by the Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Justice Senyo Dzamefe, set up in July 2014 by President John Mahama. Its purpose was to examine the scandals that unfolded during the tournament and recommend reforms for Ghana’s football administration.

The President explained that not even a handful of supporters can be sponsored, citing that flying and accommodating just 200 supporters could cost close to $2 million, which would heavily impact the government’s purse.

“The logistical support required to fly and accommodate even just 200 supporters is staggering,” he added, while acknowledging the importance of boosting the Black Stars’ morale during the tournament. However, he said the government must prioritise the prudent use of public resources.

“We all want to see our fans in the stands, but we must be responsible in how we use public resources,” he added, stressing the need to channel funds into critical areas such as job creation.

The decision means that supporters who wish to travel to the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will have to rely on private funding, sponsorships, or other fundraising efforts.

Fundraiser to support Black Stars

An amount of $10m was raised at the launch of Black Stars fundraising campaign organised on Monday, March 23, ahead of World Cup qualifiers.

This information was disclosed by the Deputy Finance Minister and Chairman of the Fundraising Committee, Thomas Nyarko Ampem.

“The fundraising target is $30 million, and if you listen to the pledges and donations, on day one of the launch, we got about $10 million. We are going to put together other events, and we believe that the contributions that are coming in from the short code as well,” he said.

The launch event was attended by high-profile individuals, including President John Dramani Mahama, Sports Minister Kofi Adams, and Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku.