“Carlos Queiroz on the way to the fifth World Cup with Ghana.”

Only 35 days remain until the start of the 2026 World Cup, and a legendary figure in world football is preparing to make history once again. Carlos Queiroz, the 73-year-old Portuguese coach, is set to equal an impressive record by leading the Ghana national team in his fifth World Cup, joining the mythical Bora Milutinović, who holds the second-highest number of tournaments managed.

After a sudden departure from his role with Oman, Queiroz did not have a moment’s rest. Just three weeks after being dismissed, he was hired by Ghana in April, a last-minute decision following the dismissal of former coach Otto Addo, whose team had suffered its fourth consecutive defeat. Now, with the Black Stars already qualified for the final stage, Queiroz’s mission is to turn around the team’s recent World Cup fortunes and bring glory to a nation hungry for success.

The draw has placed Ghana in Group L, where they will face heavyweights such as England, Croatia, and Panama. This is a colossal challenge, but one that Queiroz knows well, as this will be his third national team participating on the biggest stage in world football. His World Cup career began almost in 2002 when he helped South Africa qualify, although he left the position before the tournament began. In 2010, he managed the Portugal national team, with Cristiano Ronaldo as the star player, and then took charge of Iran, where he became the longest-serving coach of the national team, achieving three consecutive World Cup qualifications.

The experience and resume of Queiroz are indisputable, but Ghana faces a huge challenge. In the last two World Cups (2014 and 2022), the team failed to advance to the next stage and, recently, did not qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, something that had not happened in 21 years. The arrival of Queiroz represents an opportunity to rebuild the team and break these negative trends.

Carlos Queiroz is thus about to write another remarkable chapter in his career, coming close to the legendary Carlos Alberto Parreira, who holds the absolute record with six appearances in World Cups, having coached five different teams. Milutinović made history by leading five distinct countries in World Cups, a unique achievement. Queiroz is following in their footsteps, establishing himself as one of the most respected and experienced figures in international football.

With the 2026 World Cup approaching rapidly, expectations are rising regarding what this legend of Portuguese football can achieve with the Black Stars. Will Queiroz be able to take Ghana beyond the group stage and perhaps provide a memorable surprise? The countdown has already begun, and the world will be watching what unfolds in this new adventure of the veteran coach on the biggest stage in football.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.