‘Don’t expect much’: Kwadwo Asamoah issues sobering World Cup warning

Former Ghana international Kwadwo Asamoah has urged the nation to temper its expectations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

The Black Stars are set to make their fifth appearance at the global showpiece following a gruelling qualification campaign that saw them finish at the summit of Group I, amassing 25 points from 10 matches.

Ghana Secures Fifth FIFA World Cup Berth

In the buildup to the tournament, Ghana appointed veteran Portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz to succeed Otto Addo. Asamoah believes the former Real Madrid and Iran manager faces a monumental task in a very limited timeframe.

“From my experience, building a cohesive team requires significant time. Even with our current national setup, I don’t think we have a settled starting eleven. Back in the day, you could easily name seven players who were guaranteed to start,” Asamoah told 3Sports.

“Now, it feels like a completely new team with a different squad for every window. With another new coach coming in just months before the World Cup, the challenge is immense.

“It won’t be easy for him, especially since the players he requires for the tournament are currently occupied with their respective clubs. The only window he will have to work with the entire squad will be a mere two-week preparation period just before the World Cup kicks off.

“Honestly, I am not expecting a great deal, though I am certainly hoping for the best. Ghana has historically been a favourite at the World Cup due to our past performances, but the current reality is different.”

The Case for Local Talent by Kwadwo Asamoah

Amidst growing public calls for the inclusion of home-based players in the final squad, Kwadwo Asamoah threw his weight behind the sentiment.

“If we can properly consider and develop our domestic divisions, we can definitely source talent from the local leagues to represent the nation. Given the current state of the Black Stars and our overall football development, I believe Ghana should be able to integrate more local players into the national team setup.”

A Legacy in Italy

Asamoah famously shared the pitch with legendary figures such as Andrea Pirlo, Giorgio Chiellini, and Gianluigi Buffon during his illustrious stint in the Italian Serie A with Juventus. He reflects on those years as a distinct honour.

“It was a privilege to play alongside icons like Buffon, Pirlo, and Chiellini. It was an incredible experience for me. Juventus became a family to me, as did Udinese, Inter, and Cagliari.”

Asamoah’s journey to the top began when he moved to Italy at age 19 from Ghana’s Liberty Professionals, initially joining Bellinzona with a loan spell at Torino before signing permanently with Udinese.

He joined the Italian giants, Juventus, four years later, where he enjoyed a trophy-laden six-season spell, clinching six consecutive Serie A titles and four successive Coppa Italia trophies. The 74-cap Ghana veteran later moved to Inter Milan for two seasons before eventually drawing the curtains on his decorated career at Cagliari.

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ghana has been drawn into a challenging Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama. The tournament will be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the USA.