2026 World Cup: Ghana will suffer early exit - Goran Milovanovic

European football super-agent Goran Milovanovic has predicted a difficult 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign for Ghana, forecasting that the Black Stars will fail to progress beyond the group stage.

The Serbian football agent believes Ghana will struggle in Group G, predicting a draw or defeat against Panama in their opening match on June 17 before suffering losses to England and Croatia in their remaining fixtures.

Speaking to Asempa FM, Milovanovic said he expects Ghana to collect no more than a single point from their three group matches, leaving them short of qualification for the knockout rounds.

“In my personal opinion, Ghana will not go in the second round, because they play against Panama and draw or lose. They will lose against England and lose to Croatia, and the point will not be enough," he said.

Despite his gloomy outlook, Milovanovic acknowledged the quality and experience of newly appointed Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz. However, he believes the Portuguese tactician was appointed too close to the tournament to make a significant impact.

According to him, Queiroz has had limited time to fully understand the strengths, weaknesses and mentality of the players at his disposal, making the task of building a competitive team even more challenging.

While expressing hope that Ghana can exceed expectations, Milovanovic admitted he fears the four-time African champions may fall short of reaching the next stage of the tournament, which is being hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Milovanovic is no stranger to Ghanaian football. He has maintained close ties with the country's football landscape since 2004, representing several Ghanaian players throughout his career as an agent. Among the notable names he has worked with are former Black Stars stars Lee Addy, Sulley Muntari, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Prince Tagoe and Daniel Opare.

Before entering football management, Milovanovic enjoyed a playing career that saw him feature in Germany, Serbia and China. During his time at Hannover 96, he played alongside former Ghana international and Black Stars coach Otto Addo.

Following his retirement, he obtained a FIFA agent licence and built a successful career in player representation, initially managing Serbian footballers before expanding his network across Europe and Africa.

Milovanovic also played a role in bringing several foreign coaches to Ghana during the administration of former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi.

His connections helped facilitate the appointments of Ratomir Dujkovic, Goran Stevanovic and Milovan Rajevac, all of whom managed the Black Stars at various stages, including the country's memorable World Cup campaigns in 2006 and 2010.