In the early hours of Sunday, August 16, 2026, Ghana’s Black Princesses set off from Accra bound for Krakow, Poland, marking a significant step in their preparations for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Head coach Charles Sampson and his technical staff travelled with an initial contingent of 17 players, while the remaining members of the squad are expected to link up with the group once camp is fully established in Poland.
This journey represents the culmination of months of focused work and the start of the final intensive phase ahead of a tournament that runs from 5 to 27 September 2026 across four Polish host cities. For the Black Princesses it will be their eighth successive appearance at the global showpiece, a remarkable record of consistency that underscores Ghana’s standing as one of Africa’s most reliable qualifiers in the age-group competition.
While based in Poland the team will take part in a series of international friendly matches carefully arranged to sharpen match fitness, improve on-field cohesion and give Sampson the opportunity to assess different tactical approaches under competitive conditions. These preparatory games are intended to provide valuable experience against quality opposition and to help the coaching staff finalise their plans before the World Cup proper begins.
Ghana open their Group C campaign against Ecuador on 6 September at Arena Sosnowiec. They will then face Korea Republic three days later and conclude the group stage against France on 12 September, with all three fixtures scheduled at the same venue. The draw places the Black Princesses in a challenging pool that mixes European pedigree, Asian technical quality and South American resilience, yet the players and staff remain determined to break new ground by advancing beyond the group stage for the first time in the nation’s history at this level.
As the final weeks of preparation unfold, the focus remains on building momentum, refining combinations and ensuring every player arrives at the tournament ready to represent Ghana with pride and purpose on the world stage.