Black Stars Kick Off Cardiff Training Under Queiroz Ahead of Wales Friendly

The Ghana Black Stars have officially begun preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, opening their training camp in Cardiff with the first session at Dragon Park on Monday.

Head coach Carlos Queiroz oversaw the opening training as players reported for duty ahead of the international friendly against Wales on June 2 at Cardiff City Stadium; the first ever senior meeting between the two nations.

Nine to thirteen players participated in the initial session with more squad members arriving today. Key players like Jordan Ayew, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Gideon Mensah, Jerome Opoku, Marvin Senaya and Alidu Seidu were among the early arrivals.

Queiroz has called up a 28-man provisional squad for the camp and friendly, which will serve as a vital assessment window before finalising the 26-man roster for the World Cup. The squad includes stars such as Thomas Partey and Antoine Semenyo, though it misses injured talisman Mohammed Kudus.

The week-long camp in Wales is vital for Ghana’s preparation for the 2026 North American tournament. The friendly against Wales allows Queiroz to assess squad cohesion and fitness.

These preparations come after Ghana’s recent 2-0 defeat to Mexico and are seen as the true beginning of a new era under the Portuguese coach.