Mohammed Kudus has welcomed Ghana’s challenging 2026 FIFA World Cup group draw with optimism and determination, insisting the Black Stars are fully prepared to compete at the highest level.
The Tottenham Hotspur attacker, who moved to north London from West Ham in the summer of 2025, was a key figure in Ghana’s successful CAF qualifying campaign. His decisive goal against Comoros helped secure top spot in their group and a place at the expanded 48-team tournament in North America.
Following the draw on December 5, 2025, which placed Ghana in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, Kudus told reporters:
“Just qualifying for the World Cup is already a big statement from us.
And it’s good that we face England in the group. It will be an exciting match. I’m looking forward to it. We fully understand the team we’ll be up against and their quality, and we will be ready for it.”
The fixture against England carries particular intrigue, as some Ghana players—including Kudus himself and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo—ply their trade in the Premier League and are well acquainted with the Three Lions’ style. England boss Thomas Tuchel has already singled out the pair as significant threats.
This will mark the first-ever World Cup meeting between the two nations (they drew 1-1 in a 2011 friendly). In the new format, the top two teams from each group advance directly to the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed sides—giving Ghana realistic hopes of progressing if they can navigate a tough trio of opponents.
With their proud history—including a memorable quarter-final appearance in 2010—the Black Stars will be eager to make a strong impression when the tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.