Ghana’s world cup preparations hit by Honduras friendly cancellation
Ghana’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered a late disruption after Honduras pulled out of a planned international friendly just days before the tournament.
The Black Stars had been scheduled to face the Central American side behind closed doors on 9 June as part of their final build-up to the World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The fixture had been arranged after an earlier proposal for a friendly against Jamaica failed to materialise. However, Honduras’ withdrawal has left the Ghana Football Association (GFA) searching for a replacement opponent at short notice.
Sources close to the situation say the GFA is actively exploring alternative options to ensure the Black Stars receive one final competitive test before beginning their World Cup campaign.
Head coach Carlos Queiroz and his technical staff had identified the match as a key part of their preparations, particularly following Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Wales at Cardiff City Stadium earlier this week.
While the Wales encounter offered useful insight into the team’s form and readiness, the coaching staff had hoped the Honduras game would provide another opportunity to fine-tune tactical plans and evaluate player fitness ahead of the tournament.
Despite the setback, Ghana’s travel arrangements remain unchanged.
The Black Stars are expected to travel to Toronto after their final warm-up fixture, where they will complete preparations for their opening Group L match against Panama on 17 June at BMO Field.
Ghana, making their fifth appearance at a FIFA World Cup, face a demanding group that also includes England and Croatia.
The four-time African champions will meet England on 23 June at Gillette Stadium before concluding their group-stage campaign against Croatia on 27 June.
The Black Stars are hoping to reach the knockout stages for the first time since their memorable run to the quarter-finals in 2010. Ghana were eliminated in the group phase at both the 2014 and 2022 World Cups.
The GFA is expected to announce further details in the coming days regarding a replacement opponent for the cancelled Honduras fixture as the countdown to the World Cup continues.
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