Former Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien has backed Ghana to progress beyond the group stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence in the quality and potential of the current squad.
The four-time African champions will compete at the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ghana has been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama.
Having endured early exits in both the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2022 tournament in Qatar, the Black Stars are now hungry to leave a lasting mark on the world stage.
Essien is convinced this team has the grit and skill to break through to the knockout rounds.
“I believe the squad has enough quality to qualify from the group stage. The last World Cup in Qatar was disappointing, and as Ghanaians, we all expect the team to perform much better this time,” the former Chelsea star told talkSPORTS.
A veteran of the 2006 and 2014 World Cups, Essien highlighted Ghana’s showdown with England as a must-watch encounter, while stressing that unwavering focus will be crucial throughout the tournament.
“The game against England is one that many people are looking forward to, but the team must approach the competition one match at a time and make sure they get the results they need,” he said.
Essien pointed out that advancing to the knockout stage should be the Black Stars’ main mission, with any further progress seen as a bonus triumph.
“If they can get out of the group and move on to the next stage, then anything can happen. I’m sure the nation would be delighted, but personally, I have a lot of confidence in this team and what they can achieve,” he added.
Ghana will begin its World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field before taking on England at Gillette Stadium on June 23. The Black Stars will conclude their group-stage matches against Croatia on June 27.
Currently training in the United States, the team is sharpening their skills ahead of the tournament, with a final test against Jamaica set for June 10.
