Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are beginning to take shape, with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirming talks with Austria
Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are beginning to take shape, with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirming talks with Austria over a possible international friendly for the Black Stars.
The fixture, if finalised, would come shortly after Ghana’s already confirmed friendly against Germany on 30 March in Stuttgart, as the West African side steps up its build-up to a fifth World Cup appearance.
Speaking on Accra-based Sporty FM, GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum said discussions were ongoing with several countries, but revealed that Austria had emerged as one of the leading options.
“Austria is one of the teams we are talking to to play after the Germany friendly game,” he said. “Hopefully, when the contract is signed, we will make it official to the public.”
The planned run of high-profile friendlies is part of a broader effort by the GFA to expose the Black Stars to top-level opposition ahead of the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Ghana have been drawn in Group L and will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on 17 June in Toronto. They will then face England in Boston before concluding the group stage against Croatia on 27 June in Philadelphia.
The Black Stars will be eager to regain momentum on the global stage after disappointing early exits at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
With Germany already confirmed and Austria potentially next, Ghana’s technical team is hoping that testing encounters against European opposition will sharpen the squad and restore belief ahead of what promises to be a demanding World Cup journey.
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