Joseph Paintsil faces another World Cup heartbreak after Ghana-Wales friendly omission
Joseph Paintsil’s hopes of playing at another FIFA World Cup are hanging in the balance after the winger was left out of Ghana’s 28-man squad for the Black Stars’ training camp in Cardiff and next week’s friendly against Wales.
The omission of the LA Galaxy forward was one of the biggest surprises when Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz named his squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Paintsil has been in encouraging form in Major League Soccer this season, scoring three goals and registering two assists in 11 appearances for LA Galaxy. His performances had fuelled expectations among supporters that he would secure a place in the Black Stars squad.
Instead, the 28-year-old now faces an anxious wait as Ghana prepare to finalise their 26-man squad for the tournament.
The decision has also revived painful memories of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when Paintsil was similarly overlooked despite impressing at club level. Then Ghana coach Otto Addo insisted the winger’s exclusion was not a question of ability.
Four years later, Paintsil once again finds himself on the fringes of Ghana’s World Cup plans despite remaining a regular part of the national team setup during the qualifying campaign.
His absence from the preparation camp has quickly become one of the main talking points surrounding Queiroz’s selection, with many fans questioning how one of Ghana’s most consistent attacking players missed out.
The Black Stars have already begun training at Dragon Park in Cardiff ahead of their friendly against Wales national football team on 2 June before travelling to North America for the World Cup.
Ghana have been drawn in Group L alongside England national football team, Croatia national football team and Panama national football team as they attempt to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2010.
For Paintsil, however, another World Cup dream may already be slipping away.
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