In the draw held in Ivory Coast on Thursday, July 13, 2023, the Black Stars of Ghana, the country's senior men's national team, were placed in Group I for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Ghana will face tough competition from teams such as Madagascar, Comoros, Central African Republic, Chad, and Mali as they strive to secure qualification for the next World Cup. The tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, poses a significant challenge for the Black Stars.
The qualification format, established by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), consists of nine groups, each comprising six teams. The top team from each group will automatically secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Additionally, the four best second-placed teams will participate in playoffs, with the winner of this playoff facing a team from the CONCACAF zone for a chance to claim the tenth and final spot in the tournament.
Spanning a two-year period from November 2023 to November 2025, the qualifiers will involve multiple matchdays. The Black Stars are set to play their first and second matchdays in November 2023, followed by the third and fourth matchdays in June 2024. The remaining matches, from the fifth to the tenth matchday, will be scheduled throughout 2025.
Having qualified for four out of the last five World Cups, Ghana has established a strong presence on the international stage. The team will be eager to secure their fifth appearance and continue their legacy of success in the prestigious tournament.
