Ghana's Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams, has confirmed that the country is in active negotiations with Wales to arrange a pre-tournament friendly, as the Black Stars ramp up preparations for their fifth FIFA World Cup appearance this summer.
Speaking before a Parliamentary Committee on Thursday, February 26th, Adams outlined a comprehensive friendly schedule for Otto Addo's side ahead of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
"We have planned to have four such matches. In March, we will have two. On the 27th, we will be playing Austria and on the 30th, we will play Germany. We are in negotiations with Wales to also play against their national team and then we will have another against Mexico on May 22nd," Adams told the committee.
The March fixtures are already confirmed as Ghana will face Austria on March 27th at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium before travelling to Stuttgart to take on Germany three days later on March 30th.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has also expressed interest in the fixture, with FAW chief executive Noel Mooney saying the match would serve as a home send-off at Cardiff City Stadium. Though he stressed it hinges on Wales successfully navigating the World Cup play-offs.
Wales host Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Cardiff play-off semi-final on March 26th, with the winners facing either Italy or Northern Ireland five days later for a place at the tournament.
Should both sides confirm the arrangement, it would be a historically notable fixture. Wales have only played African opposition once before, a 1998 friendly in Tunisia.
The game would potentially feature high-profile players on both sides, including Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus representing Ghana and Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo.
Budget confirmed for friendly programme
The minister also revealed the financial framework underpinning the friendly schedule.
"The FIFA camp, you would be engaged in some activities, including friendly matches that you organise. And so, the pre-tournament, per the estimates, we are utilising $1,230,465 converted to cedis, is GH¢13,063,723.90. This will finance the friendly matches," Adams stated.
The GFA will also receive additional support in the form of with $1.5 million from FIFA to help prepare for the tournament.
Mexico game for fringe players
Adams also shed light on the nature of the May 22nd fixture against Mexico, explaining that it will serve a different purpose from the other friendlies.
"The Mexico game will not be played by fully active players. We want to use the Mexico one to try players who will not have the opportunity to play in the competitive friendly that FIFA use to rank teams. We want to give them opportunity for them to play during the Mexico one to check them and mark them appropriately just in case you would have to have some substitutions," he explained.
A fifth friendly is also being explored. "If things work out well, while in the US, we will play a fifth friendly match, but we are still working on that one. We haven't reached any decision yet," Adams said.
Ghana's World Cup picture
Ghana secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup by finishing first in CAF Group I, with eight wins and one loss across ten matches. A 1-0 victory over the Comoros sealed their place, with Kudus scoring the decisive goal.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia. They open their campaign against Panama on June 17th in Toronto, face England on June 23rd at Foxborough, Massachusetts, and close the group stage against Croatia in Philadelphia.
The Black Stars will base camp in Rhode Island and train at Bryant University ahead of and during the tournament.
Ghana are targeting a strong showing after back-to-back group-stage exits, and with a schedule that could include high-quality opponents in Austria, Germany, Wales, and Mexico, Addo's side will be among the better-prepared African nations heading into North America this summer.
