Queiroz Reveals What Ghana is Willing to Do to Beat Panama in Toronto

Happening today is Ghana’s debut against Panama in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  Coach Carlos Queiroz made it clear that he does not expect an easy match this Wednesday at Toronto Stadium.  The experienced Portuguese coach, who is competing in his fifth World Cup as a manager, described Panama as a competitive, organized and difficult opponent to break down, while also stating that his team will have to be prepared to “pay a high price” to secure the three points in their opening match of Group L.  “Victories in the first round are very costly here,” Queiroz said during the official pre-match press conference. “The most important thing for me is that the Ghana players are ready to pay the high price for a victory.

We are ready to try to play better football, fight harder, and respond more quickly because that is the only way to get closer to victory.”  The coach noted that the parity shown in the first days of the tournament confirms the high competitive level of the championship, where numerous matches have ended in a draw and every point acquires a special value.  Despite attempts by the press to get his analysis of specific players on the Panamanian team, Queiroz avoided making individual assessments. The most direct question came when he was asked about the situation of Adalberto Carrasquilla, who is suffering from physical discomfort and whose participation in the match is uncertain. 

However, the strategist was firm in his stance.  “I don’t love talking about players in public,” he replied. “I always want to talk about a player I love, which is the team.”  Far from referring to the Panamanian midfielder, Queiroz insisted that his attention is focused on Panama’s collective performance.  “They are a very difficult team, well organized, with a lot of experience. They are a very competitive team that we respect, just as we respect England and Croatia,” he said.  He maintained the same line when questioned about Thomas Partey’s situation. The Ghanaian midfielder is still awaiting a resolution to his immigration status after initially being denied a visa to enter Canada, a situation that has created uncertainty regarding his availability for the match. 

Queiroz avoided fueling the controversy and assured that he is only focused on working with the players he has available.  “We are counting on all 26 players we have on the team. We will make a decision about the lineup tomorrow. We are waiting for a decision and when it comes, we will be ready,” he commented.  The coach also explained that one of his main challenges since his arrival has been to integrate players trained in different leagues and football cultures to build a common identity within the Ghanaian national team.  “The first challenge was to connect players from different schools and different gaming cultures to create an identity,” he said.