Carlos Queiroz has been appointed head coach of Ghana’s national football team ahead of the upcoming World Cup, marking his fifth consecutive appearance as a manager at the tournament. At 73, Queiroz joins the ranks of Bora Milutinovic as one of the few coaches to lead teams at five straight World Cups. The former Manchester United assistant and ex-Real Madrid manager replaces Otto Addo, who was dismissed in March.

Queiroz brings a wealth of international experience, having previously guided Portugal in the 2010 World Cup and Iran in the subsequent three editions. Despite not advancing beyond the group stage with Iran, his tenure with Portugal saw the team reach the round of 16, where they were eliminated by Spain. He described his new role with Ghana as the “biggest challenge” of his 40-year career, emphasizing the mission-like nature of the task to restore the Black Stars' standing on the world stage.

Ghana has a mixed recent World Cup record, having reached the quarter-finals in 2010 but failing to progress in 2014 and 2022. The expanded 48-team tournament format, which allows the best eight third-placed teams to advance, offers additional hope for a team aiming to recapture past successes. However, Ghana’s recent preparation has been uneven, with a loss to Mexico and a draw against Wales in warm-up matches tempering expectations.

A significant setback for Ghana’s campaign will be the absence of midfielder Thomas Partey for their opening game against Panama in Toronto. Partey was denied a Canadian visa due to his ongoing legal issues in England, where he faces multiple rape and sexual assault charges. Although he has pleaded not guilty and the trial is scheduled for next year, Canadian authorities cited reasonable grounds related to these allegations in refusing his entry. Ghana’s Football Association president, Kurt Okraku, expressed confidence ahead of the tournament, asserting that the team is determined to outperform their group rivals, which also include England and Croatia.

Ghana’s immediate focus will be on securing a positive result against Panama, a crucial match given the competitive group stage ahead. Queiroz’s appointment underscores Ghana’s intent to leverage his extensive international coaching pedigree as they seek to rekindle their past World Cup form.