World Cup 2026: Honduras withdraw from planned friendly against Ghana ahead of tourney

Ghana's final preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a slight setback after Honduras withdrew from a planned international friendly scheduled for June 9.

The Black Stars were expected to face the Central American nation behind closed doors as part of their final build-up to the global tournament in North America.

The match had been arranged after an earlier proposed fixture against Jamaica failed to materialise.

However, Honduras will no longer be available for the encounter, forcing the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to explore alternative options.

Sources indicate that the GFA is actively working to secure a suitable replacement opponent to ensure the team gets one final competitive test before the start of the World Cup.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz and his technical team view the friendly as a crucial part of their preparations, particularly after Ghana's 1-1 draw against Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium a few days ago.

The match provided valuable insights into the team's readiness, but the coaching staff had hoped to use the Honduras fixture to further fine-tune tactics and assess player fitness.

Despite the latest development, Ghana's travel plans remain unchanged. Following their final warm-up match, the Black Stars are expected to head to Toronto, where they will begin preparations for their opening Group L clash against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field.

The four-time African champions are making their fifth FIFA World Cup appearance and face a challenging group that also includes England and Croatia.

Ghana will take on England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium before concluding their group-stage campaign against Croatia on June 27.

The Black Stars are targeting a place in the knockout rounds for the first time since their historic quarter-final run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, having exited at the group stage in both 2014 and 2022.

The GFA is expected to provide an update soon regarding a replacement opponent for the cancelled Honduras fixture.