Ghana are back at the FIFA World Cup. The Black Stars, who last competed at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, have been drawn into Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama.
They will open their campaign against Panama in Toronto on June 17 before facing England in Boston on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.
Carlos Queiroz has been set the clear and ambitious target of guiding the Black Stars to the quarter-finals, a stage they have not reached since their iconic 2010 campaign in South Africa.
To get there, Ghana will have to navigate the new and significantly expanded 48-team format, which introduces an additional knockout round and changes the entire shape of the bracket.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will progress to the new Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament.
Flashscore takes you through the path that awaits the Black Stars in the knockout phase and the names that could await them along the way.
Round of 32: Where Ghana's knockout journey begins
Ghana's Round of 32 opponent depends entirely on how they finish in Group L.
If Ghana win Group L:
The winner of Group L will face one of the third-placed teams from Group E, Group H, Group I, Group J or Group K. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1 in Atlanta, with a 12:00pm ET kick-off.
The possible opponents from these third-place pools represent some of the most variable in the tournament. Group K contains Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia. Group J features Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan. Group H, I and E offer a mixture of established powers and emerging nations such as Spain, Uruguay, France, Norway, Senegal, Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast.
In theory, a Ghana side that wins their group could be paired with a third-placed DR Congo, Austria or Algeria, Saudi Arabia or Cape Verde, or Ecuador.
If Ghana finish second in Group L:
The runner-up of Group L will advance to play the runner-up of Group K. The match is scheduled for Match 83 in Toronto, Canada.
This route is more clearly defined. The runner-up of Group K will most likely be Colombia or Portugal, depending on how that group plays out. Both represent significant tests as Colombia possess one of the most dangerous attacking lines in South American football, while Portugal carry the experience of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and a talented deep midfield.
For Ghana to finish second in Group L would itself be an achievement, but the reward would almost certainly be a heavyweight opponent.
If Ghana finish third in Group L:
Should Ghana finish third and qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams, they could potentially advance to face the winner of Group K.
That winner is overwhelmingly likely to be Portugal, currently FIFA-ranked 6th in the world and one of the favourites to make a deep run at the tournament. A Round of 32 clash with Ronaldo's side would be a daunting prospect but, for Ghana, an opportunity to make history.
Round of 16: Things get serious
Should Ghana progress past the Round of 32, the Round of 16 will pose the next significant test. The bracket structure means Ghana's Round of 16 opponent will depend on which of the parallel ties they emerge from in the Round of 32.
If Ghana win their Round of 32 fixture having topped Group L, they will play the winner of a Round of 32 match between the winner of Group K (likely Portugal) and a third-placed team from Group D, E, I, J or L.
In essence, this means Ghana's potential Round of 16 opponents could include Portugal, a fascinating reunion if Ghana have already navigated the third-placed pool, or one of several other quality nations from across the tournament.
The Round of 16 represents the historic ceiling Ghana have already breached. In 2010, they reached the quarter-finals, a level they will be desperate to repeat in North America.
Quarter-Finals: The target set by Queiroz
The quarter-finals are where Queiroz has been explicitly tasked with taking this Ghana team. To reach this stage would not only equal their 2010 achievement but vindicate the bold decision to bring in the experienced Portuguese coach with just weeks to prepare.
The potential quarter-final opponents are formidable. Depending on how the bracket unfolds, Ghana could find themselves facing one of the tournament favourites; France, Spain, Brazil or Argentina are all in the wider half of the bracket that intersects with Group L's path.
France in particular, the 2022 finalists and one of the favourites to lift the trophy, are a possibility that has been widely discussed in projection brackets.
For Ghana, reaching the quarter-finals would itself be cause for national celebration. Going further would require a performance for the ages.
Semi-Finals and Beyond: The stuff of dreams
Should Ghana reach the semi-finals, they would join an exclusive club. Only one African nation has ever reached a World Cup semi-final with Morocco achieving that in 2022.
Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana themselves (2010) all reached the quarter-finals but fell agonisingly short of the last four.
For the Black Stars to break that barrier in 2026 would be the greatest moment in their footballing history, surpassing even the heartbreak of Soccer City in 2010, when Luis Suárez's handball denied them a place among the world's last four.
The semi-final opponent would depend on the path taken but a clash with one of Brazil, France, Argentina, Spain or another title contender would be all but inevitable.
The final, of course, would represent the impossible dream made real. The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. For Ghana, even imagining themselves there is to dare in the most courageous way possible.
The Reality of Group L
Before any of these scenarios can unfold, Ghana must navigate Group L itself. England arrive as one of the tournament favourites with a side blessed with attacking riches in Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka.
Croatia are perennial overachievers, with Luka Modrić still capable of producing moments of magic and the experience of a 2018 final and a 2022 third-place finish behind them.
Panama, while less heralded, are a physical and well-organised CONCACAF side who will be motivated to make their mark at only their second World Cup appearance.
The challenge is immense. But Ghana arrive with belief under new coach Queiroz. The first chapter is written in Toronto on June 17 against Panama.
Follow Ghana at the 2026 World Cup on Flashscore.
