Ghana have appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on five occasions, in 2006, 2010 (where they reached the quarter-finals), 2014, 2022 and 2026.
Record at the FIFA World Cup Overall record Ghana have qualified for five FIFA World Cup tournaments; 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022 and 2026.
In 2006, Ghana were the only African side to advance to the second round of the tournament, and were the sixth nation in a row from Africa to progress beyond the group stages of the World Cup. Ghana had the youngest team in the competition with an average age of 23 years and 352 days, and were praised for their improving performance. FIFA ranked Ghana 13th out of the 32 countries who competed in the tournament.Black Stars 13th ranked – 2006 FIFA World Cup
In the 2010 World Cup, Ghana progressed beyond the group stage and reached the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Uruguay. Ghana was defeated by Uruguay on penalties after Luis Suárez controversially handballed on the goal line deep into extra time, denying Ghana an almost certain winning goal. Had Ghana won their quarter-final, they would have become the first African nation to progress to the semi-finals of the world cup. Of the 32 countries that participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, FIFA ranked Ghana 7th.
In the 2014 and 2022 World Cup, Ghana was eliminated in the group stage. In 2026, they were eliminated in the round of 32.
FIFA World Cup recordYearRoundPosition 1930Did not enter 1934 1938 1950 1954 1958 1962Did not qualify 1966Withdrew 1970 Did not qualify 1974 1978 1982Withdrew 1986 Did not qualify 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006Round of 1613th420246 2010Quarter-finals7th522154 2014Group stage25th301246 2018Did not qualify 2022Group stage24th310257 2026Round of 3224th411223 2030To be determined 2034TotalQuarter-finals5/23196492026
By match World CupRoundOpponentScoreResultVenueGhana scorers2006Group E0–2LHanover2–0WCologneA. Gyan, S. Muntari2–1WNurembergH. Draman, S. AppiahRound of 160–3LDortmund2010Group D1–0WPretoriaA. Gyan1–1DRustenburgA. Gyan0–1LJohannesburgRound of 162–1 WRustenburgK. P. Boateng, A. GyanQuarter-finals1–1 2–4 pDJohannesburgS. Muntari2014Group G1–2LNatalA. Ayew2–2DFortalezaA. Ayew, A. Gyan1–2LBrasíliaA. Gyan2022Group H2–3LDohaA. Ayew, O. Bukari3–2WAl RayyanM. Salisu, M. Kudus (2)0–2LAl Wakrah2026Group L1–0WTorontoC. Yirenkyi0–0DFoxborough1–2LPhiladelphiaD. LuckassenRound of 320–1LKansas City
Head-to-head record OpponentWin %Total
Participations Germany 2006 Head coach: Ratomir Dujković
Asamoah has spent the run up to the tournament on loan to Modena.
Dramani joined Gençlerbirliği after the tournament.
Italy vs Ghana
GK 1 Gianluigi BuffonRB 2 Cristian ZaccardoCB 13Alessandro NestaCB 5 Fabio Cannavaro (c)LB 3 Fabio GrossoDM 21Andrea PirloRM 20Simone PerrottaLM 4 Daniele De Rossi AM 10Francesco Totti CF 11Alberto Gilardino CF 9 Luca Toni Substitutions:MF 16Mauro Camoranesi FW 15Vincenzo Iaquinta FW 7 Alessandro Del Piero Manager:Marcello Lippi GK 22Richard KingsonRB 15John PaintsilCB 4 Samuel KuffourCB 5 John MensahLB 6 Emmanuel Pappoe RM 18Eric AddoCM 8 Michael EssienCM 10Stephen Appiah (c)LM 11Sulley Muntari CF 14Matthew Amoah CF 3 Asamoah Gyan Substitutions:DF 7 Illiasu Shilla FW 19Razak Pimpong FW 12Alex Tachie-Mensah Manager: Ratomir Dujković
Man of the Match: Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
Assistant referees: Aristeu Tavares (Brazil) Ednílson Corona (Brazil) Fourth official: Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia) Fifth official: Hamdi Al Kadri (Syria)
Czech Republic vs Ghana Asamoah Gyan opened the scoring with a low left footed shot to the net from the edge of the penalty area. Gyan then missed a penalty in the second half when he hit his shot against the post in the 66th minute. Sulley Muntari got the second goal for Ghana in the 82nd minute, finishing a move with a left footed shot to the roof of the net from inside the penalty area.
GK 1 Petr ČechRB 2 Zdeněk GrygeraCB 21Tomáš Ujfaluši CB 22David RozehnalLB 6 Marek JankulovskiDM 4 Tomáš Galásek (c) RM 8 Karel Poborský CM 10Tomáš RosickýCM 11Pavel NedvědLM 20Jaroslav Plašil CF 12Vratislav Lokvenc Substitutions:MF 19Jan Polák MF 17Jiří Štajner FW 7 Libor Sionko Manager:Karel Brückner GK 22Richard KingsonRB 15John PaintsilCB 5 John MensahCB 7 Illiasu ShillaLB 13Habib Mohamed RM 20Otto Addo CM 8 Michael Essien CM 10Stephen Appiah (c)LM 11Sulley Muntari CF 14Matthew Amoah CF 3 Asamoah Gyan Substitutions:MF 9 Derek Boateng MF 18Eric Addo FW 19Razak Pimpong Manager: Ratomir Dujković
Man of the Match: Michael Essien (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Darío García (Argentina) Rodolfo Otero (Argentina) Fourth official: Jerome Damon (South Africa) Fifth official: Enock Molefe (South Africa)
Ghana vs United States Ghana opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Haminu Draman curled a low right footed shot past the goalkeeper from the left of the penalty area. The winning goal for Ghana was a penalty at the end of the first half which Stephen Appiah shot high right footed to the goalkeepers right.
GK 22Richard KingsonRB 15John PaintsilCB 5 John Mensah CB 7 Illiasu Shilla LB 13Habib MohamedDM 8 Michael Essien RM 9 Derek Boateng LM 23Haminu Draman AM 10Stephen Appiah (c) CF 14Matthew Amoah CF 19Razak PimpongSubstitutions:MF 20Otto Addo MF 18Eric Addo FW 12Alex Tachie-Mensah Manager: Ratomir Dujković GK 18Kasey KellerRB 6 Steve Cherundolo CB 13Jimmy ConradCB 22Oguchi OnyewuLB 3 Carlos BocanegraDM 10Claudio Reyna (c) RM 8 Clint DempseyLM 7 Eddie Lewis AM 21Landon DonovanCF 17DaMarcus BeasleyCF 20Brian McBrideSubstitutions:MF 14Ben Olsen FW 9 Eddie Johnson MF 15Bobby Convey Manager:Bruce Arena
Man of the Match: Stephen Appiah (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Christian Schräer (Germany) Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany) Fourth official: Toru Kamikawa (Japan) Fifth official: Yoshikazu Hiroshima (Japan)
Brazil vs Ghana Second Round Match
GK 1 DidaRB 2 Cafu (c)CB 3 LúcioCB 4 Juan LB 6 Roberto CarlosCM 5 Emerson CM 11Zé RobertoAM 8 Kaká AM 10RonaldinhoCF 7 Adriano CF 9 RonaldoSubstitutions:MF 17Gilberto Silva MF 19Juninho MF 20Ricardinho Manager:Carlos Alberto Parreira GK 22Richard KingsonRB 15John Paintsil CB 5 John MensahCB 7 Illiasu ShillaLB 6 Emmanuel PappoeRM 11Sulley Muntari CM 10Stephen Appiah (c) CM 18Eric Addo LM 23Haminu DramaniCF 14Matthew Amoah CF 3 Asamoah Gyan Substitutions:MF 9 Derek Boateng FW 12Alex Tachie-Mensah Manager: Ratomir Dujković
Man of the Match: Zé Roberto (Brazil)
Assistant referees: Roman Slysko (Slovakia) Martin Balko (Slovakia) Fourth official: Mark Shield (Australia) Fifth official: Nathan Gibson (Australia)
South Africa 2010 Coach: Milovan Rajevac
Serbia vs Ghana Asamoah Gyan scored only goal of the game came in the 85th minute from the penalty spot, shooting to the goalkeepers right after a handball offence by Zdravko Kuzmanovic.
GK 1 Vladimir StojkovićRB 6 Branislav IvanovićCB 13Aleksandar Luković CB 5 Nemanja VidićLB 3 Aleksandar KolarovCM 11Nenad Milijaš CM 10Dejan Stanković (c)RW 17Miloš KrasićLW 14Milan Jovanović SS 9 Marko PantelićCF 15Nikola Žigić Substitutions:MF 22Zdravko Kuzmanović FW 8 Danko Lazović DF 20Neven Subotić Manager:Radomir Antić GK 22Richard KingsonRB 4 John PaintsilCB 15Isaac Vorsah CB 5 John Mensah (c)LB 2 Hans SarpeiCM 6 Anthony AnnanCM 23Kevin-Prince Boateng RW 12Prince Tagoe AM 21Kwadwo Asamoah LW 13André AyewCF 3 Asamoah Gyan Substitutions:MF 10Stephen Appiah DF 19Lee Addy MF 20Quincy Owusu-Abeyie Manager: Milovan Rajevac
Man of the Match: Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Ricardo Casas (Argentina) Hernán Maidana (Argentina) Fourth official: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia) Fifth official: Jeffrey Gek Pheng (Singapore)
Ghana vs Australia Asamoah Gyan scored the equalizer for Ghana in the 25th minute from the penalty spot, shooting low to the goalkeepers left after a handball by Harry Kewell on the goal-line for which he was shown a straight red card.
GK 22Richard Kingson (c)RB 4 John PaintsilCB 8 Jonathan Mensah CB 19Lee Addy LB 2 Hans SarpeiDM 6 Anthony Annan CM 23Kevin-Prince Boateng RW 12Prince Tagoe AM 21Kwadwo Asamoah LW 13André AyewCF 3 Asamoah GyanSubstitutions:MF 20Quincy Owusu-Abeyie MF 11Sulley Muntari FW 14Matthew Amoah Manager: Milovan Rajevac GK 1 Mark SchwarzerRB 8 Luke Wilkshire CB 2 Lucas Neill (c)CB 3 Craig Moore LB 21David CarneyCM 5 Jason CulinaCM 16Carl ValeriRW 7 Brett EmertonAM 14Brett Holman LW 23Mark Bresciano CF 10Harry Kewell Substitutions:DF 11Scott Chipperfield FW 9 Joshua Kennedy FW 17Nikita Rukavytsya Manager: Pim Verbeek Man of the Match: Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Paolo Calcagno (Italy) Stefano Ayroldi (Italy) Fourth official: Carlos Simon (Brazil) Fifth official: Altemir Hausmann (Brazil)
Ghana vs Germany
GK 22Richard KingsonRB 4 John PaintsilCB 5 John Mensah (c)CB 8 Jonathan MensahLB 2 Hans SarpeiDM 6 Anthony AnnanCM 23Kevin-Prince BoatengCM 21Kwadwo AsamoahRW 12Prince Tagoe LW 13André Ayew CF 3 Asamoah Gyan Substitutions:MF 11Sulley Muntari FW 14Matthew Amoah FW 18Dominic Adiyiah Manager: Milovan Rajevac GK 1 Manuel NeuerRB 16Philipp Lahm (c)CB 17Per MertesackerCB 3 Arne FriedrichLB 20Jérôme Boateng CM 7 Bastian Schweinsteiger CM 6 Sami KhediraRW 13Thomas Müller AM 8 Mesut ÖzilLW 10Lukas PodolskiCF 19CacauSubstitutions:MF 15Piotr Trochowski MF 2 Marcell Jansen MF 18Toni Kroos Manager:Joachim Löw Man of the Match: Mesut Özil (Germany)
Assistant referees: Altemir Hausmann (Brazil) Roberto Braatz (Brazil) Fourth official: Martín Vázquez (Uruguay) Fifth official: Carlos Pastorino (Uruguay)
United States vs Ghana United States vs Ghana was played on 26 June 2010 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. The match was watched by 19 million Americans, making it the most watched association football match in American television history. The match was won by Ghana in extra time, after Asamoah Gyan broke a 1–1 deadlock. Kevin-Prince Boateng scored the opening goal of the match for Ghana in the 5th minute. The goal followed an error by Ricardo Clark, who lost the ball to Ghana in midfield. Boateng took the ball to the edge of the penalty area, beating US goalkeeper Tim Howard with a low left foot shot. Landon Donovan equalised with a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, awarded after Jonathan Mensah fouled Clint Dempsey. The US had chances to win the game thereafter, but they were unable to get past Ghana's goalkeeper Richard Kingson. The match thus went to extra time. In the third minute, Gyan latched onto a high long ball, chesting it down and holding off two defenders before scoring the winner. After the match, Ghana's coach Milovan Rajevac hailed his side's achievement in becoming one of the "best eight teams in the world", but regretted the number of players that would miss the quarter-final against Uruguay because of injury or suspension. The president of the Soccer Federation, Sunil Gulati, lamented the team's failure to make the quarter-finals and thereby further raise the profile of the sport in the US.
GK 1 Tim HowardRB 6 Steve Cherundolo CB 15Jay DeMeritCB 3 Carlos Bocanegra (c) LB 12Jonathan BornsteinCM 4 Michael BradleyCM 13Ricardo Clark RW 8 Clint DempseyLW 10Landon DonovanCF 17Jozy Altidore CF 20Robbie Findley Substitutions:MF 19Maurice Edu MF 22Benny Feilhaber FW 9 Herculez Gomez Manager:Bob Bradley GK 22Richard KingsonCB 4 John PaintsilCB 5 John Mensah (c)CB 8 Jonathan Mensah RWB 7 Samuel Inkoom LWB 2 Hans Sarpei CM 6 Anthony AnnanCM 23Kevin-Prince Boateng RW 21Kwadwo AsamoahLW 13André Ayew CF 3 Asamoah GyanSubstitutions:DF 19Lee Addy MF 10Stephen Appiah MF 11Sulley Muntari Manager: Milovan Rajevac Man of the Match: André Ayew (Ghana)
Assistant referees: Gábor Erős (Hungary) Tibor Vámos (Hungary) Fourth official: Michael Hester (New Zealand) Fifth official: Tevita Makasini (Tonga)
Uruguay vs Ghana