Queiroz takes Ghana to the fifth World Cup: the coach who doesn't know how to stop
At 71 years old, the Portuguese coach adds another historic place in Qatar 2026 and reinforces the thesis that age is just a number when it comes to winning strategy.
Carlos Queiroz, aged 71, carved his name in football history by guaranteeing Ghana's fifth appearance in a final stage of the World Cup, including Qatar 2026. The milestone was sealed with a qualifying campaign that the Portuguese coach classified as a 'breathtaking', highlighting the intensity and importance of the journey. Queiroz, who had already led teams such as Portugal and South Africa to World Cups, now equals the record of five appearances in finals, a feat shared by only a handful of coaches in world football.
Queiroz takes Ghana to the fifth World Cup: the coach who d…
Ghana's classification comes after a series of decisive games in the African qualifiers, where the team had to overcome opponents such as Morocco, Senegal and Egypt. The coach, known for his pragmatic style and ability to motivate players, managed to extract the best from a young and talented group, guaranteeing qualification with two rounds to spare. The 2-1 victory against Egypt in October 2025, with goals from Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayiah, was decisive in sealing the place, demonstrating resilience in a game played under extreme pressure.
Queiroz inherited a team with underutilized potential and transformed it into a compact bloc, focusing on quick transitions and an organized defense — a model that contrasted with Ghana's offensive history. His approach was not limited to tactics: the Portuguese coach introduced a training routine based on data analysis, something still rare in African teams, and reinforced the group's cohesion with sports psychology sessions. The result was a team that, in nine qualifying games, conceded just seven goals and kept the dressing room conflict-free, a remarkable feat on a continent where off-field distractions often undermine campaigns.
Ghana's campaign also exposed weaknesses in the usual African favorites. Morocco, Club World Cup champions in 2023 and semi-finalists at Qatar 2022, saw their unbeaten home record in qualifying broken for the first time in five years, losing 1-0 to Ghana in March 2025. Senegal, led by Sadio Mané, suffered an unexpected draw against Guinea at home, while Egypt, despite the talent of Marwan Mohsen, showed signs of aging in defense.
These results suggest that African football may be entering a transition phase, where tactical consistency begins to weigh more than individual brilliance. Speaking to the international press, Queiroz highlighted the scale of the achievement: 'It's not just a victory for Ghana, it's a victory for all of African football. ' His statement reflects not only confidence in the current project, but also the ambition to transform Ghana into a regular power in the World Cup.
The coach also highlighted the role of organized defense and quick transition as pillars of the campaign, a model that contrasts with Ghana's traditional offensive style and which has been praised for its consistency in results. Queiroz, who has already played for clubs and national teams on four continents, reinforces his status as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in world football. Your presence at Qatar 2026 is not only a personal milestone, but also a sign that age does not define the limit of your career.
The Portuguese coach, who has already overcome barriers such as cancer in 2020, uses resilience as a bargaining chip, transforming adversity into motivation for his team. His ability to reinvent himself — from Middle Eastern clubs to African teams — shows that pragmatism can be as lethal as raw talent. Ghana's classification comes at a time when African football is experiencing a new cycle of affirmation.
With Marwan Mohsen's Egypt, Sadio Mané's Senegal and Hakim Ziyech's Morocco consolidating golden generations, Queiroz emerges as the mentor who balances experience and innovation. His approach, based on in-depth tactical analysis and emotional management, has been cited as one of the factors that differentiates Ghana from its continental peers, who often depend solely on individual talent. Queiroz doesn't hide his ambition: 'We want to be the first African team to reach the quarter-finals at a World Cup since 2002.
' The statement is not rhetorical. With a squad that mixes promises like Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and experienced players like André Ayew, Ghana has the potential to surprise in 2026, especially if they manage to replicate the tactical discipline that took them to the knockout stages. Ghana's return to the World Cup after 12 years of absence is not a mere detail.
The country's last participation was in Qatar 2022, where they fell in the group stage with one point, in a group that included Portugal and Uruguay. Queiroz, who was not part of the technical command at the time, inherited a team under reconstruction and managed, in less than two years, to return it to the biggest stage in world football. The feat is even more relevant when one considers that Ghana is the only African country to have won the African Cup of Nations (CAN) — in 1963 and 1978 — but which has never passed the group stage in a World Cup since 1992.
Its classification for 2026 therefore represents an opportunity to rescue a historical legacy and project a new generation of talent. What's next: Ghana's debut at Qatar 2026 will be one of the most anticipated games of the group stage, especially if the opponent is a European or South American power. Queiroz has already said that the focus will be on maintaining defensive organization and exploring quick counterattacks, a model that could surprise teams used to dominating possession of the ball.
The team will also have to deal with the pressure of being the only African representative with real ambitions to advance beyond the group stage, which may require adjustments in emotional management during the competition. Preparation for the tournament has already begun, with friendlies scheduled against European teams in 2026 to test the model. Read at RTP Desporto
Why this matters
Queiroz is not just another coach breaking records: he is living proof that bench experience can be the decisive weapon in increasingly competitive African qualifiers. Their presence at Qatar 2026 reinforces Ghana's status as an emerging force in global football and projects the country as a serious candidate to surprise in groups. For the coach, it is another chapter in a career that has already crossed continents and generations of players. Ghana's classification also signals a paradigm shift in African football, where tactical organization begins to replace the exclusive dependence on individual talent, a model that Queiroz embodies. The campaign also exposed weaknesses in the usual African favorites, suggesting that the continent may be entering a transition phase, with Ghana leading this movement.
Frequently asked
How many times has Queiroz taken a team to the finals of the World Cup?
The Portuguese coach has five appearances in the final stages of the World Cup: 1998 (South Africa), 2002 (Portugal), 2006 (Portugal), 2010 (Portugal) and now 2026 (Ghana).
What was the decisive game that guaranteed Ghana's place in Qatar 2026?
The 2-1 victory against Egypt in October 2025, with goals from Mohammed Kudus and Jordan Ayiah, sealed qualification with two rounds to spare.
Is Queiroz the oldest coach to qualify a team for a World Cup?
No. The record belongs to Otto Rehhagel, who led Greece to the 2010 World Cup at the age of 71 years and 317 days. Queiroz will be born in 1953 and, in 2026, he will be 73 years old.
Has Ghana been to every edition of the World Cup since Queiroz took over?
No. Ghana's last participation before 2026 was in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, under the command of previous coaches. Queiroz returns to the tournament after 12 years of absence.
Has Queiroz coached other African teams besides Ghana?
Yes. Before taking over Ghana in 2023, the coach had spells in Egypt (2021-2022) and Mozambique (2000-2002), in addition to experiences at clubs such as Al-Ahly (Egypt) and Zamalek (Egypt).
How did Queiroz manage to transform Ghana into a compact bloc in such a short time?
The coach bet on quick transitions, organized defense and introduced data analysis into training — something still rare in African teams — in addition to sports psychology sessions to keep the dressing room cohesive.
