Ghana turns to Queiroz weeks before World Cup

Carlos Queiroz is back on the World Cup stage again — this time with Ghana, stepping in less than two months before the tournament in a move that signals urgency more than long-term planning.

The Ghana Football Association confirmed on Monday that Queiroz will immediately take charge of the Black Stars’ preparations, following a sudden coaching gap just 72 days before kickoff.

“The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association, working with all key stakeholders, has appointed Carlos Queiroz as head coach ⁠⁠of the senior national team, ⁠⁠the Black Stars,” the GFA said in a statement.

The timing tells the story. Ghana parted ways with Otto Addo after underwhelming March friendlies against Austria and Germany, leaving little room for a gradual transition. Instead, the federation has opted for experience — and specifically, World Cup experience.

At 73, Queiroz brings exactly that. This will be his fifth consecutive World Cup as a head coach, having previously led Portugal to the round of 16 in 2010 and taken Iran to three straight tournaments. Across those campaigns, results were mixed — three wins in 13 matches — but his reputation has been built on navigating high-pressure international environments.

He arrives after a brief stint with Oman, which ended last month when the team failed to qualify for 2026. Before that, his career moved across continents, with spells in Egypt, Japan, Colombia and South Africa — a pattern that reflects both his adaptability and the short-term nature of many international jobs.

“This is not just another job – it is a mission,” Queiroz said in a statement. “And I am ready to give everything of my experience and knowledge once again, in service of the game and the happiness of people.”

According to the GFA, he was selected from more than 600 applicants, a detail that underlines both the scale of the search and the weight placed on tournament know-how over long-term rebuilding.

Ghana now face a tight runway. Drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama, they head into a demanding group with limited time to reset. Pre-tournament friendlies against Mexico on May 22 and Wales on June 2 will likely serve as the only real testing ground before the competition begins.