Black Stars defender Jerome Opoku
Black Stars defender Jerome Opoku says he is determined to earn a place in Ghana’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be staged in North America.
The Istanbul Basaksehir centre-back played five matches during Ghana’s qualification campaign and believes featuring at the World Cup would mark the pinnacle of his career.
“Hopefully, once that team selection’s there, my name will be on it,” Opoku told RG. “But for now, I don’t want to get too excited. I just want to stay locked in, stay part of the squad, and keep helping Ghana and developing myself in the friendlies leading up to that tournament.”
The 27-year-old has become an important figure in Otto Addo’s setup, admired for his composure, awareness, and strength in defence.
He also scored his first international goal against Uganda earlier this year and was ever-present during the qualifiers.
“The World Cup is the biggest tournament in the world that you can be a part of,” he added. “This team is coming together really well, and once we fully adapt to the coach’s ideas, I believe we have the quality to make history. If I’m there, which I pray I will be, the sky’s the limit.”
Ghana, who secured qualification with a 1-0 win over Comoros earlier this month, will be making their fifth World Cup appearance when the tournament kicks off in June 2026.
