The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has reiterated that selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad will be based strictly on merit, dismissing calls for any quota system to guarantee spots for locally based players.
GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum addressed the debate, saying, “No quota has been set for local players. Black Stars selections have always been based on merit, not on whether a player is local or abroad.” He stressed that performance remains the sole criterion for national team recognition.
The debate over quotas intensified following Ghana’s qualification for the World Cup, with domestic clubs potentially benefiting from FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme if their players participate. Despite these incentives, the GFA remains committed to fielding the strongest possible squad.
Asante Twum cited recent homegrown talents as examples of the merit-based system: “Players like Afriyie Barnieh, Danlad Ibrahim, Richmond Lamptey, and most recently Benjamin Asare earned their call-ups purely through performance—no one begged for them. The same principle applies to every player: wherever you are, if your performance warrants it, you will be called up.”
The Black Stars, drawn in Group L, will start their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, before facing England in Boston and concluding the group stage against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.
The GFA’s reaffirmation underscores its commitment to selecting Ghana’s most competitive team for the global stage.
