Ghana have appointed veteran international coach Carlos Queiroz for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Canada, Mexico and the USA. The 73-year-old replaces Otto Addo, who was dismissed last month following a series of disappointing results.
The announcement comes just a few weeks before the global showpiece, with Ghana drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, England and Panama.
“Queiroz boasts an extensive World Cup pedigree,” a statement from the Ghana FA read. “He is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear during the World Cup.”
This will be the fifth World Cup at which the Portuguese has coached. He previously took charge of his native Portugal at South Africa 2010 and led IR Iran at the previous three tournaments — Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. Queiroz also qualified South Africa to Korea/Japan 2002 but left the role shortly prior to the World Cup.
“It is with a deep sense of gratitude to [the Ghana FA], responsibility and humility that I embrace this new chapter with the National Football Team of Ghana,” said Queiroz. “Football has given me a lifetime of challenges, lessons, and unforgettable journeys, all over the world. Today, I accept this mission with the same passion and commitment that have guided me throughout my career… This is not just another job — it is a mission.”
In a long career, which included a spell at Real Madrid, Queiroz also coached Egypt, Colombia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Most recently, he was in charge of Oman, whom he left last month following their failure to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Queiroz’s first matches in charge of Ghana will be a friendly against Mexico on 22 May and then a fixture with Wales on 2 June.
Notably, Queiroz will enter the record books in North America as the third oldest coach in World Cup history, behind South Africa’s Hugo Broos and Czechia’s Miroslav Koubek who will both be 74 during this year’s showpiece. The current mark is held by Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 years and 317 days when he took charge of Greece against Argentina in the group stage of South Africa 2010.
He will also be just the second coach who has taken part in five consecutive World Cups behind Bora Milutinovic, who was an ever-present between 1986 and 2002, with Mexico, Costa Rica, USA, Nigeria and China PR.
