Carlos Queiroz just entered a club so exclusive it has exactly two members. By taking the Ghana job ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 73-year-old Portuguese tactician will coach at his fifth consecutive World Cup, a feat matched only by the legendary Bora Milutinovic, who managed five different nations across the 1986 to 2002 tournaments.

Queiroz was appointed as Ghana’s new head coach on April 13, 2026, inheriting a squad that has historically punched above its weight on the global stage but has struggled to recapture the magic of its earlier World Cup runs.

From Lisbon to Tehran to Accra

Queiroz’s World Cup journey reads like a frequent flyer’s dream itinerary. He led Portugal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, then took charge of Iran for three consecutive tournaments: Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022. Now Ghana becomes the third national team he’ll guide onto football’s biggest stage.

His World Cup coaching record stands at 16 matches and 4 wins. His stint as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United gave him elite-level tactical credibility. His time managing Real Madrid, while brief, proved he could operate in the most high-pressure environments in club football.

The only other person to pull off five consecutive World Cups, Milutinovic, is widely regarded as one of the most fascinating figures in football history, a nomadic coaching genius who took Mexico, Costa Rica, the United States, Nigeria, and China to successive World Cups over a 16-year span.

Why Ghana needed a change

Queiroz replaces Otto Addo, who was dismissed around March 31, 2026, following a rough stretch that included four straight losses. The final straw was a 2-1 defeat to Germany in a friendly match.

Ghana’s World Cup history is a story of tantalizing highs and frustrating plateaus. The Black Stars have appeared at the tournament in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022. The 2010 run in South Africa remains the high-water mark, when Asamoah Gyan’s missed penalty in the quarterfinal against Uruguay became one of the most heartbreaking moments in African football history. Since then, Ghana has not advanced past the group stage. The 2026 edition marks the country’s fifth World Cup appearance.

What this means for Ghana’s World Cup campaign

Queiroz’s Iran teams were consistently among the toughest opponents in their respective groups, rarely getting blown out and occasionally pulling off results that nobody saw coming. Iran held Portugal to a draw in 2018, for instance, nearly knocking a Cristiano Ronaldo-led squad out in the group stage.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, features an expanded 48-team format. That means more group-stage matches and, theoretically, a slightly easier path to the knockout rounds.