World Cup 2026: Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku fires warning to England ahead of tournament

President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku, insists the Black Stars will be ready to match the challenge when they face England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026.

The West African football powerhouse are set to compete at the global stage after securing one of Africa’s slots for the mundial, to be co-hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico next month.

Ghana are paired in Group L against European giants, England, 2018 World Cup finalists, Croatia and Panama. The Black Stars will open their account against Panama before taking on England and Croatia respectively.

Speaking to SkySports during a visit to the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom, the Ghana football leader acknowledged England coach Thomas Tuchel, while expressing readiness for the game against the Three Lions.

“I think that England has a good team. We must respect the manager and the experience that he brings on board,” he said. “But what is also true is that they will meet a very, very competitive and determined Ghanaian side,” Kurt Okraku said

Ghana have begun preparations in Cardiff ahead of their pre-World Cup friendly against Wales, slated for June 2, with head coach Carlos Queiroz overseeing training sessions at Dragon Park.

The Black Stars are expected to spend a week training in Cardiff before taking on Wales, after which the team will travel to the United States for the next phase of preparations.

Queiroz is expected to use the training period and friendly matches to evaluate his squad before naming Ghana’s final 26-man squad for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The upcoming tournament will be Ghana’s fifth appearance at the global stage, having previously competed in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022, with their best performance coming in 2010 when they reached the quarterfinals.