2026 World Cup: We are here to compete and perform – Ghana captain Jordan Ayew declares

Ghana captain Jordan Ayew has vowed that the Black Stars will head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the ambition of competing at the highest level rather than merely making up the numbers.

The four-time African champions have arrived at their training base in Rhode Island ahead of their fifth appearance at the global showpiece, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Drawn in a challenging Group A alongside Panama, England and Croatia, Ghana will be seeking to improve on their recent World Cup performances after suffering group-stage exits at both the 2014 and 2022 tournaments.

Having famously reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Black Stars are eager to make a stronger impression on the world stage this time around.

Speaking after the team's arrival in Rhode Island, Ayew acknowledged the difficult task ahead but expressed confidence in the squad's readiness for the tournament.

“We know it’s going to be a difficult tournament. It won’t be easy. We have a young group, and for the past three to four years, we have been building towards moments like this. Obviously, we didn’t qualify for AFCON, but we managed to qualify for the World Cup, and that was not easy either," he said.

“Now that we are here, we are not coming as spectators. We are here to compete, to perform, to make our country proud, and to give our very best for ourselves and the people back home. I know the boys are ready, so we’ll see what happens," the 34-year-old added.

Ghana will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 before taking on England at Gillette Stadium in Boston on June 23.

The Black Stars will then conclude their Group A fixtures against Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 27 as they bid to secure a place in the knockout stages.