Ghana has been a World Cup darling for over two decades now, but it appears that will change in 2026.
The Black Stars have seen their once proud programme fall into shambles over the last few years. That came to a culmination last fall when they failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament for the first time since 2004. The failure has led to changes being made, but will it be enough to stave off an ugly World Cup appearance next summer?
Below, we’ll discuss the three biggest obstacles facing the Black Stars and how we see them playing out over the next 10 months.
Thomas Partey Allegations
The biggest problem facing Ghana’s national team is the status of star midfielder Thomas Partey. The veteran has led the Black Stars for years now, winning Ghana Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019. His impressive talent led to him signing with English Premier League giant Arsenal in 2020, but that term came to an ugly end earlier this year.
As Arsenal and Partey were negotiating a new contract, 2022 sexual assault accusations from the UK resurfaced over the summer. Police finally charged the star last month, leading Arsenal to end negotiations. Partey is currently with La Liga’s Villareal, though his debut has been met with mixed reactions from fans.
If Partey is not on the Black Stars’ final World Cup roster, the team won’t have a chance of advancing past the group stage. While the expanded field will give them an advantage, the loss of such a critical player would be a devastating blow.
However, Partey’s inclusion on the roster could also have a negative impact on Ghana’s national team. If a UK court is still considering those serious charges, it would create a massive distraction in the locker room. It is hard to see the team overcome the leadership challenge.
Addo Back in Charge
On top of possibly being without their top player, Ghana has also seen instability at the manager position. Legend Otto Addo briefly led the team in 2022 but resigned after the World Cup. The Black Stars decided to return him to the role in April 2025 after they continued to struggle.
Addo is one of the shining stars of Ghanaian soccer, but his managerial experience is limited. He has served as an assistant, last working for Borussia Dortmund until 2021. Several team officials have touted bringing the former star back to manage, but some also mentioned that a veteran team would make the job easy.
The idea that the roster’s experience will negate the importance of the manager’s role is a dangerous thought for the national team’s leadership to have. That may have blinded them to Addo’s weaknesses as a manager, believing his legendary status would bring more to the squad.
On top of his inexperience as a tactician, Addo is also being forced to deal with the Partey charges. He is not only facing mounting pressure from the media, but is also being tasked with keeping the locker room protected from the scandal.
Public Pressure
The pressure on the Black Stars feels like it’s even higher than it was during the team’s best years. Fans have high expectations, which has led to a growing anger as they watch the team fall behind African rivals like Morocco, Senegal, and Cameroon. We saw the fallout after the failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations, which led to team officials making some big moves.
If the World Cup were starting today, we believe the public pressure might be a massive problem for Ghana. However, time may be on their side.
The team’s struggles have begun to temper expectations from fans and experts. Most major sportsbooks have Ghana’s odds to win the World Cup among the bottom 15. Their odds put them in the same class as Ireland, Georgia, and Iran. That has fans thinking twice before even using their free bets to back their squad.
If those expectations falter, it could completely change the way this team approaches next summer’s international tournament. With nothing to lose, the squad could thrive in the role of an underdog, as they did over two decades ago.
