Carlos Queiroz Named Black Stars Coach With 58 Days to the World Cup

Ghana Gambles Big on Experience — Queiroz Is the Black Stars' New Boss

The Ghana Football Association has made its move. With less than two months to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, the Black Stars have a new head coach — and it is one of football's most travelled tacticians.

Carlos Queiroz, the 73-year-old former Manchester United assistant under Sir Alex Ferguson, has been appointed to lead Ghana into the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. He replaces Otto Addo, who was dismissed following four consecutive friendly defeats — a run that left Ghana's World Cup preparations in serious disarray.

From 600 Applicants to One Choice

This was not a rushed or desperate decision. According to reports, the GFA received over 600 applications for the position before settling on Queiroz — a man who has managed at five World Cups, guided Portugal to the 2010 knockout stages, and led Iran for nearly eight years. He also took Egypt to the 2022 AFCON final.

He beat out notable names including former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic and two-time AFCON winner Hervé Renard. The GFA clearly prioritised pedigree and big-tournament know-how over familiarity.

In a statement released through the GFA, Queiroz framed the appointment in unmistakably personal terms: "This is not just another job — it is a mission." goal

What He Walks Into

The job is not an easy one. Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and the recent friendly results have done nothing to calm nerves among supporters. The World Cup draw has not been kind either — the Black Stars are placed in Group L alongside England, Panama, and Croatia.

Queiroz takes charge immediately and will have friendlies against Mexico and Wales to work with before the tournament opener against Panama at BMO Field. That is a tight window to implement tactical structure, rebuild confidence, and integrate a squad featuring Premier League talents like Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo.

Is This the Right Call?

On paper, the credentials are undeniable. Queiroz has been at the highest levels of club and international football for decades. He knows how to prepare a team for a World Cup, and he knows how to handle pressure.

The concern is time. 58 days is a brutally short runway for any new coach, let alone one building a system from scratch. Ghana's best World Cup finish remains their 2010 quarter-final run — a benchmark this squad will be measured against. Whether Queiroz can reignite that kind of belief in a few weeks is the real question.

What is clear is that the GFA has chosen ambition over caution. Now it is up to the coach — and the players — to deliver.

Source: Goal.com Ghana — Full article here