Carlos Queiroz has been appointed head coach of Ghana national football team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stepping in to lead the team after a turbulent period.
The experienced Portuguese tactician replaces Otto Addo, who was dismissed on March 31 following back-to-back friendly defeats to Germany and Austria, as well as Ghana’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
At 73, Queiroz brings a wealth of international experience, having previously worked as assistant manager to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United across two spells, and also managing top national teams and clubs around the world, including a stint as head coach of Real Madrid.
He arrives in Ghana shortly after leaving his role with the Oman national team, where he narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification.
Speaking after his appointment, Queiroz expressed his enthusiasm for the challenge ahead. “I accept this mission with the same passion and commitment that have guided me throughout my career,” he said.
“Ghana is a nation of talent, pride, and footballing soul. I arrive with respect for its history and belief in its future.”
Born in Mozambique, Queiroz has a long history on the international stage, having led Portugal to the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup and guiding Iran through three consecutive World Cup tournaments. His managerial résumé also includes spells with Egypt, Japan, Colombia and South Africa.
His immediate focus will be preparing Ghana for a tough Group L campaign at the 2026 tournament, where they will face Panama national football team in their opening match on June 17, before taking on England national football team and Croatia national football team on June 23 and June 27 respectively.
With the tournament set to be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, Carlos Queiroz now takes charge at a critical moment, tasked with rebuilding confidence and guiding the Black Stars back to competitiveness on the global stage.
