Ghana secures 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 qualification ahead of Croatia match
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Ghana's Black Stars have officially qualified for the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This qualification was confirmed before their final Group L match against Croatia, due to results in other tournament games. Under the expanded 48-team format, four points were sufficient to guarantee progression. Ghana, led by head coach Carlos Queiroz, joins Egypt, England, Portugal, and Paraguay in the knockout stage. The team accumulated four points from their initial two Group L matches, securing a 1-0 victory over Panama and a goalless draw against England. The expanded World Cup format allows the top two teams from each of the 12 groups to qualify automatically, along with the eight best third-placed teams. Results in Group H ensured that any team with four points would qualify. Despite securing their spot, Ghana still aims for a victory against Croatia to potentially finish atop Group L, which could lead to a more favorable draw in the Round of 32. Coach Queiroz has emphasized playing for a win. This marks Ghana's first appearance in the World Cup knockout stage since reaching the quarter-finals in 2010.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Must ReadTwo Ghanaian children born in South Africa have described daily xenophobic abuse, including being called "amakwerekwere," a derogatory term for Black African foreign nationals. One boy stated that fellow students bully him and use offensive language. His sister reported that her teacher also calls her "amakwerekwere" and encourages classmates to mistreat her. The children expressed a desire to move to Ghana to learn about their heritage. Their father was present during their interview on Channel One TV, where their faces were blurred for protection. Their parents are reportedly working on obtaining documents for their return to Ghana.
President John Dramani Mahama commenced a two-day working visit to the Central Region as part of his Resetting Ghana Tour. The tour aims to foster direct engagement with the populace outside Accra. His itinerary includes addressing a durbar of chiefs and people at Assin Bereku, where he will also inaugurate a new "24-hour economy market." Accompanied by ministers and government appointees, President Mahama will inspect four ongoing road projects and inaugurate a CHPS compound in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District, presenting Free Primary Health Care kits. He will also visit the Cape Coast Castle to promote heritage tourism. The tour will conclude with a Citizens Engagement Town Hall at Apam Junction, serving as a platform for accountability and direct feedback from residents regarding development, investment, and job creation initiatives.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticized the current NDC government, stating it has failed to implement any social intervention programs with a meaningful impact on the nation's youth. He claims the government canceled existing interventions that supported private sector growth without introducing viable alternatives. Afenyo-Markin challenged the NDC government to identify a single social intervention program implemented in its one and a half years in office that creates opportunities for the youth. He specifically mentioned the cancellation of the 1D1F program, which he said left the private sector without hope. While acknowledging the government's stabilization of the cedi, he questioned the cost of achieving it.