Ghana has officially appointed Carlos Queiroz as the head coach of their senior national team, the Black Stars, as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Queiroz, who has previously managed clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United, as well as national teams like Portugal and Iran, will begin his duties immediately.

Upcoming Matches and Short-Term Arrangement

Ghana's first match in Group L is scheduled against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field in Toronto. Following that, they will face England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Croatia on June 27 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has indicated that Queiroz's appointment is a short-term arrangement, set to be evaluated after the World Cup.

Background on the Appointment

This decision comes after a two-week search initiated by the GFA following the dismissal of Otto Addo on March 30, which occurred just hours after a 2-1 friendly loss to Germany. This defeat marked the fourth consecutive loss for the Black Stars in their pre-tournament preparations, which included setbacks against Japan, South Korea, and a significant 5-1 loss to Austria. Despite Addo's success in qualifying Ghana for the tournament, winning eight and drawing one of ten qualifying matches, he was let go just 72 days before the World Cup.

GFA president Kurt Okraku revealed that the association received over 600 applications within the first 24 hours after Addo's departure, despite not publicly calling for candidates. Queiroz emerged as the selected candidate after competing against several notable contenders, including Slaven Bilic, the former West Ham United manager, and Herve Renard, who previously won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia and Ivory Coast.

In a statement on the GFA website, Queiroz expressed his commitment to the role, stating, "This is not just another job -- it is a mission. And I am ready to give everything of my experience and knowledge once again, in service of the game and the happiness of People."