Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars, has arrived in Providence, Rhode Island, as they enter the final stage of preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The squad left Virginia on Thursday and landed at T.F. Green International Airport around 6:00 p.m., concluding a successful week-long training camp in the Washington, D.C. area.
The Black Stars will be based at Bryant University in Smithfield, designated as Ghana’s official Team Base Camp for the tournament. The team will train at the university’s facilities before traveling to Toronto on June 15, two days before their opening Group L match against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field.
Bryant University’s new 43,000-square-foot field house offers world-class training, recovery, and sports medicine facilities, providing an ideal environment for head coach Carlos Queiroz and his staff as they fine-tune the team’s preparations.
Before arriving in Rhode Island, Ghana held intensive training sessions at American University and at D.C. United’s training complex. The camp concluded with a farewell gathering hosted by members of the Ghanaian community in Alexandria, Virginia.
Speaking during the send-off event, Black Stars captain Jordan Ayew acknowledged the challenge that awaits the team but expressed confidence in the squad’s determination.
“We have three very important matches ahead of us, and our goal is to make Ghanaians proud,” Ayew said.
“We know it won’t be easy, but with the support and prayers of our fans, we hope to achieve success.”
Queiroz’s squad features key players such as Jordan Ayew, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Antoine Semenyo, Kamaldeen Sulemana, and Inaki Williams. However, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mohammed Kudus remains unavailable after failing to recover from a quadriceps injury sustained earlier in the year.
The arrival of the Black Stars has generated excitement among Rhode Island’s Ghanaian community, with several cultural and fan engagement activities planned during the team’s stay, including a Ghana Community and Culture Day scheduled for June 20.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley has welcomed the team, its supporters, and families to the city, while Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa expressed pride in hosting Ghana ahead of the tournament.
“Rhode Island is proud to welcome the Ghanaian Black Stars. They are a talented team with impressive depth and exciting young players,” Diossa said.
After opening their World Cup campaign against Panama, Ghana will face England in Boston on June 23 before taking on Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27 to complete their Group L schedule.
The four-time African champions will be aiming to advance to the knockout stages for the first time since their memorable quarter-final appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
With the final phase of preparations now underway, the Black Stars will be hoping their stay in Rhode Island provides the perfect foundation for a successful World Cup campaign.
