Ghana FA President Kurt Simeon-Okraku Declares Black Stars Will Win 2026 FIFA World Cup

Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, President of the Ghana Football Association and CAF Second Vice President, has stated in unequivocal terms that Ghana’s Black Stars are travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the intention of winning the tournament — a stance he made public at a farewell dinner held in Alexandria, Virginia, for the national team.

Addressing members of the Ghanaian diaspora community in the United States, Simeon-Okraku drew a clear line between mere qualification and genuine title ambition. “We strongly believe in this team, and we know that we are not here to be counted among the numbers but to compete and fight for the title,” he said.

The GFA chief went further in expressing personal confidence in the players, citing their development over recent years as evidence of their readiness for a deep tournament run. “I strongly believe in these players and, over time, they have proven that they have the quality, the talent, the hunger and the desire to make Ghana proud,” Simeon-Okraku added.

Directly addressing the scepticism that has surrounded the Black Stars — stemming in part from a run of seven matches without a win heading into the tournament — Simeon-Okraku remained resolute. “This is our time to shine. The stakes are high. A lot of people don’t believe, but I do. I feel energised and very upbeat about our chances in this tournament. We are Ghana, and we shall conquer,” he said.

Ghana are placed in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia — a draw widely considered among the more demanding in the tournament. Their campaign begins on June 17 in Toronto against Panama, before subsequent fixtures against England and Croatia will determine whether the Black Stars advance from the group stage. Notably, former Sweden international Zlatan Ibrahimovic has publicly backed Ghana to cause problems for both England and Croatia in the group.

Following the farewell event in Alexandria, the squad relocated to Providence, Rhode Island, to complete their pre-tournament preparations ahead of the Panama fixture.

Ghana’s World Cup history provides context for both the ambition and the caution surrounding the current squad. The Black Stars remain the only African team to have reached the quarter-finals of a FIFA World Cup, achieving that milestone in South Africa in 2010 before a penalty shootout exit to Uruguay. However, subsequent appearances in 2014 and 2022 ended at the group stage, with the 2022 campaign in Qatar producing an early exit despite a memorable 3-2 victory over South Korea.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and marks the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 nations — expanding the field from the previous 32-team format. The enlarged bracket means more teams advance beyond the group stage, with 32 sides progressing to the round of 16, which marginally improves the statistical prospects for nations such as Ghana that have historically struggled to clear the first hurdle in recent editions.