2026 World Cup: Black Stars lacked team spirit - Kevin-Prince Boateng after elimination

Former Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng has blamed the Black Stars' early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on a lack of team spirit.

Ghana's campaign came to an end after a 1-0 defeat by Colombia in the Round of 32 at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday, with Jhon Arias scoring the only goal in the 14th minute to send the South American side into the last 16, where they will face Switzerland.

Speaking to SBS Sport after the match, Boateng said unity, rather than individual talent, was the defining factor in successful tournament campaigns.

The former midfielder acknowledged that building a strong team culture had been difficult because head coach Carlos Queiroz was appointed only shortly before the tournament.

"It's missing the team spirit, and I said that before the tournament. If Ghana builds that team spirit, which is difficult, because the coach came in just a month before. But you need to build that team spirit."

Boateng drew comparisons with Ghana's run to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa, where the Black Stars came within a penalty shootout of becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.

"We had team spirit in 2010. In 2014, we didn't have team spirit. That's why we went home. It's all about the spirit."

The former AC Milan and Schalke midfielder also pointed to the recent performances of emerging football nations, arguing that collective unity has become a key ingredient for success at major tournaments.

"If you see Cabo Verde, Curacao, all these small nations, they survive, and they threaten the big nations. Why? Because they have team spirit. Morocco, team spirit. That's what it's about, especially in a tournament in a short time."

Ghana reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since 2010 after progressing from Group L, but their campaign ended at the first knockout hurdle with defeat by Colombia.