"Until the court makes a decision, the presumption of innocence is on the side of all court cases." That's Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz, defending his decision to include Thomas Partey in his 26-man World Cup squad — and it's the sentence that will follow the Black Stars all summer in New England.
Partey faces seven charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault in the UK. He has pled not guilty to all eight. A judge ruled in April that the trial — now pushed back to January 2027 — will proceed with all charges heard together. None of that has kept him out of the squad. The Ghana Football Association has stood firmly behind him, with GFA president Kurt Okraku calling Partey a "key member of the Black Stars" and pledging to stand "shoulder to shoulder with him." Queiroz echoed that line at a Monday press conference ahead of a friendly with Wales.
Whether you think that's the right call or not, it's the dominant storyline going into a tournament Ghana genuinely have a chance of navigating past the group stage — if they can keep the noise down long enough to actually play football.
Who Ghana are actually relying on
The absence of Mohammed Kudus is the wound that doesn't fully heal. The Tottenham midfielder tore his quad against Sunderland in January and won't feature, which strips Ghana of their most dynamic attacking option. Queiroz will have to build around what he has.
That means Iñaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo leading the line — both coming off strong club seasons and capable of causing problems on the flanks. Brandon Thomas-Asante played a direct role in Coventry City's promotion to the Premier League and will be looking to prove he belongs at this level. Ernest Nuamah adds another live wire in attack.
Captain Jordan Ayew, 120 caps and counting, will set a new Ghana record with his first appearance of the tournament, moving ahead of older brother André. It's the kind of milestone that gets noted and then forgotten quickly if results don't follow.
Defensively, Baba Abdul Rahman's form for PAOK in Greece has been solid, and Gideon Mensah adds cover. In goal, Benjamin Asare — Ghana Premier League's best keeper this season — gets the nod.
Ghana's path through Group L
The Black Stars will play their second group game at Gillette Stadium — rebranded "Boston Stadium" for the tournament — where they face England. That's the fixture that will likely define whether they advance.
They've been eliminated at the group stage in each of their last two World Cup appearances. Fifth appearance, same question: can they finally get out? Without Kudus, the attacking depth is thinner than it looked six months ago. Partey, legal cloud and all, remains the engine in midfield — his quality is real, and Ghana's chances of progressing rise or fall significantly with how he performs.
For context on Queiroz himself: he's on course to become just the second manager ever to take charge at five consecutive World Cups, having led Portugal in 2010 before guiding Iran through 2014, 2018, and 2022. Experience isn't the issue.
Full Ghana 2026 World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen), Joseph Anang (St. Patrick's Athletic)
- Defenders: Baba Abdul Rahman (PAOK), Derrick Luckassen (Pafos FC), Gideon Mensah (AJ Auxerre), Marvin Senaya (AJ Auxerre), Alidu Seidu (Stade Rennais), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Jonas Adjetey (VfL Wolfsburg), Kojo Oppong Peprah (OGC Nice)
- Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Villarreal CF), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta), Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo), Augustine Boakye (AS Saint-Etienne), Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjaelland), Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City), Elisha Owusu (AJ Auxerre)
- Forwards: Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al-Qadsiah), Ernest Nuamah (Olympique Lyonnais), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City), Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzen), Iñaki Williams (Athlétic Club), Jordan Ayew (Leicester City)
Ghana are training out of Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and staying at the Graduate by Hilton in Providence — sharing New England as a base with France, of all teams.
Queiroz has his squad. The trial date is set for January 2027. The tournament starts now.
