Queiroz on World Cup experience and Ghana's fans ahead of Panama

On the eve of Ghana's FIFA World Cup 2026™ opener against Panama in Toronto, coach Carlos Queiroz praised the commitment shown by the Black Stars. The 73-year-old, who is preparing for his fifth World Cup finals, reflected on the unpredictability of football and the importance of making the right decisions.

Queiroz's philosophical outlook

“The final outcome of football is always a mystery,” Queiroz said. “There is no formula and that is why it's still so special after all these years. How much are you committed on the day of the game?” The coach's comments underscored his confidence in Ghana's dedication. “We're strong and we'll showcase our strengths in the game,” he added.

Respect for Panama

Queiroz acknowledged the challenge posed by Panama, describing them as a well-organized and competitive team. “We have good solutions to their strengths and will try to expose the weaknesses they have,” he said.

A career of experience

Queiroz has had a long and illustrious career, serving as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, head coach of Real Madrid and Portugal, and leading IR Iran at three World Cup finals. He is now keen to apply that knowledge, but with a note of caution. “One thing I took from my past experiences is that there is a difference between a good decision and the right decision,” he explained. “It's not always something that you can know at the time. Sometimes you make the right decision and it doesn't turn out that way.”

“I learned quite a bit from coaches, from players, and I believe that this is now an opportunity for me to consider and really put together everything that I've worked for, every decision I've made,” continued Queiroz. “I hope God gives me the inspiration to make the right decisions, to use my experience and everything that I've learned in my life so that I can take the right decisions at the right time.”

Keeping it simple

Despite his philosophical musings, Queiroz emphasized the simplicity of football. “At the end of the day, football is a very simple game, and I don't like to overcomplicate it. The only thing that we're thinking about is winning. If you do it through the air, if you do it on the right side, on the left side, all that doesn't matter. We just have to find a path to victory.”

Support from Ghanaian fans

Helping to guide the team along that path will be a large contingent of Ghana supporters, who gave the team a spectacular welcome on their arrival in Toronto on Monday. Queiroz expressed his anticipation for their support during the match. “I hope that during the game we will hear the drums of Ghana for 90 minutes and let them accelerate the beat of our hearts,” he said.