Carlos Queiroz Names 28 Man Black Stars Squad for World Cup Training Camp

The road to football ultimate global tournament has officially begun for Ghana with major squad surprises. Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has announced his 28-man squad for the upcoming World Cup preparation camp and an international friendly against Wales.

The balanced roster features five goalkeepers, nine defenders, seven midfielders, and seven forwards, signaling a highly competitive internal environment.

Notable Returns and New Faces in the Cardiff Camp

The national team officially opened its training camp on Monday May 25 2026, setting up base at the Dragon Park facility in Cardiff. The players are intensively training ahead of their international friendly against Wales, scheduled for Tuesday June 2 2026, which serves as a critical warm-up fixture.

The biggest headlines surrounding the squad release involve massive player exclusions and highly anticipated injury comebacks. Notably, high-profile stars Derrick Kohn and Joseph Paintsil were completely dropped from the roster. On the flip side, Greece-based left back Baba Abdul Rahman returns to the national setup for the first time since September 2023 following stellar performances for PAOK.

Olympique Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah and Rayo Vallecano defender Abdul Mumin have also earned recalls after successfully battling back from long anterior cruciate ligament layoffs. Adding fresh energy to the mix is 20-year-old Ajax Amsterdam prodigy Paul Reverson, who received a call-up for further long-term technical assessment.

Excluding established wingers right before a tournament is a logical risk, but Queiroz is clearly prioritizing current physical fitness and structural discipline. Following the friendly in Wales, the Black Stars will travel across the Atlantic to compete in the prestigious FIFA World Cup hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Ghana will open its Group L campaign against Panama in Toronto, before facing highly anticipated group stage fixtures against England in Boston and Croatia in Philadelphia.

Three Factual Insights on International Football Logistics

• The FIFA World Cup incorporates an expanded format featuring 48 nations competing across distinct multi-city groups in North America.
• Dragon Park serves as the National Football Development Centre for Wales, offering elite training infrastructure used frequently by international teams.
• Anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation protocols for elite athletes typically require nine to twelve months of structured physical therapy before a player returns to competitive contact sports.

Assembling a squad in Cardiff marks a vital step in forging tactical unity under immense pressure. While fans will undoubtedly debate the exclusion of Paintsil and Kohn, the return of experienced figures like Baba Rahman provides vital stability. Coach Queiroz has a proven track record of building rigid, defensively sound tournament teams.

The upcoming friendly against Wales will offer the perfect laboratory to test his structural formulas, ensuring the Black Stars land in North America fully prepared to disrupt the global football hierarchy.

Also Read: Kevin Taylor Blasts GFA Boss Kurt Okraku For Calling Back His Player For The World Cup

Source -ghanafa.org