2026 World Cup: Black Stars squad will be announced on June 1 - GFA boss Kurt Okraku confirms

President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has revealed that Black Stars' 2026 World Cup squad will be announced on June 1. 

He confirmed this after Ghana's 2-0 loss against Mexico in a friendly on Saturday morning.

Despite the loss, Okraku insisted the exercise achieved its intended purpose, particularly for Ghana’s emerging players and members of the U-23 side preparing for Olympic qualifiers.

“Objective accomplished! This event has provided significant stage exposure for the majority of our U-23 players, who will soon assemble for the Olympic qualifiers, as well as other players who had limited playing time," he wrote on social media.

He added, “The World Cup squad announcement is scheduled for June 1st. Let's maintain our collective support for our stars!!”

Okraku stressed that the match offered Ghana an important opportunity to test players who are not regular members of the senior national team setup.

“This presents a considerable chance for our U23 squad to garner essential experience, as they are not typically involved in matches of such high stature, thereby allowing them to gain priceless exposure,” he stated.

The GFA President further noted that the technical team also benefited from assessing unfamiliar players up close.

“Furthermore, it offers a substantial opportunity for us to evaluate players with whom we may be less acquainted, having perhaps only previously known them through reports,” he explained.

Ghana fielded a youthful side against Mexico, with several fringe and home-based players handed opportunities to impress ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Okraku acknowledged the challenges of assembling a largely inexperienced squad on short notice but urged supporters to focus on the positives.

“Given the team's limited time together, it's clear that integrating the team's efforts will be a challenge. Nonetheless, we will emphasize the positives from this match. Next stop - Wales,” he posted.

The GFA President also praised the young talents in the squad, describing them as players who need long-term development and support.

“Today our emphasis is on the talented young players who have showcased impressive football skills, a team comprised of exceptional talents that require collective nurturing along our designated pathway to attain their objectives,” he added.

Ghana will now turn its attention to their next friendly against Wales as preparations continue toward the World Cup, with anticipation building ahead of the official squad announcement on June 1.

These games form part of Ghana's preparations ahead of the Mundial in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Ghana will make its fifth World Cup appearance in North America, having been drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia. The Black Stars will open their campaign against Panama on June 18, before facing England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.