Black Stars head coach Otto Addo is confident Ghana can advance to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite being drawn into what he described as a “tough group.”
Ghana were placed in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama following the official draw held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., setting up a demanding but intriguing path for the four-time African champions.
Speaking to 3Sports after the draw, Addo said he was pleased with the group pairing and optimistic about Ghana’s chances, stressing that a strong start would be crucial to their campaign.
“It’s a tough group, but it’s doable. There are worse groups, to be honest,” Addo said.
“I’m happy, especially for our fans on the East Coast of the USA, that they’ll be able to see us. For that reason, I’m very happy.”
The Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama, and Addo believes a positive result in that fixture could provide the momentum needed to navigate the group successfully.
“If we have a good start against Panama, from there we can continue to build,” he added.
Despite his confidence, the Ghana coach was quick to caution against complacency, particularly against Panama, who are currently ranked 30th in the world.
“We want to win every match, that’s for sure. Once we get a good start, then anything is possible,” Addo explained.
“But on a good day, I know we can beat everyone, and I also know we can lose against all of these teams, including Panama, if we underrate them.”
Ghana will face England in their second group match before wrapping up the group stage against 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia, as Group L shapes up to be one of the most competitive sections of the expanded 48-team tournament.
With qualification places extended under the new format, the Black Stars will head into the World Cup with belief, discipline and preparation as they aim to make a deep run in their fifth appearance on football’s biggest stage.
