Kurt Okraku and Addo land in Washington as Ghana awaits high-stakes World Cup draw

Nii Ayitey Brown 09:55 - 05 December 2025

Kurt Okraku leads Ghana's 2026 World Cup delegation.

Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered a decisive stage as officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the technical leadership of the Black Stars arrived in Washington, D.C., ahead of Friday’s group-stage draw.

GFA President Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku and head coach Otto Addo both touched down in the U.S. capital.Okraku, leading the delegation, expressed optimism despite Ghana’s placement in Pot 4, a position that increases the likelihood of being grouped with some of the world’s toughest teams.

I expect Ghana to get a good group and I expect us to move to the next level of preparations after the draw. I expect us to do well,

he noted in a video shared on social media shortly after his arrival.His presence in Washington also reflects Ghana’s intensified commitment to a strong World Cup campaign. The government recently established a high-level oversight committee headed by Okraku to streamline logistics, planning, and preparations ahead of the expanded 48-team tournament.

The initiative highlights the strategic importance of the 2026 World Cup to Ghana’s global sporting reputation. Otto Addo’s arrival in Washington was also met with excitement, particularly among Ghanaian diaspora fans who gathered to welcome him. Despite Ghana’s low seeding, Addo remains realistic yet hopeful.

I know that at the moment Ghana is not ranked high, so we will probably get a tough group,

Black Stars Head Coach Otto Addo

he said in an interview earlier this week, adding that the team must be prepared to face stronger opponents.Ghana’s path to the United States, Canada, and Mexico was sealed with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Comoros in Accra, where Mohammed Kudus delivered the decisive goal.

The qualification followed a turbulent period for the national team, including the disappointment of missing out on the 2025 AFCON. However, the turnaround has strengthened the resolve of both the technical team and the players, many of whom have since gained valuable experience in Europe’s top leagues.

As the world turns its attention to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Ghana will learn its group-stage opponents and begin a fresh phase of tactical and logistical planning. With potential matchups against powerhouses such as Argentina, France, or Germany, the stakes could not be higher.

Yet both Okraku and Addo exude confidence that the Black Stars can defy the odds, just as they did in their storied 2006 and 2010 campaigns. With the right preparation, discipline, and belief, Ghana aims not only to participate but to make a strong impact on the global stage once more.

As the draw approaches, anticipation continues to build in Accra, Washington, and across the Ghanaian diaspora.

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