Ghana returns in 2026 after missing the 2022 World Cup, bringing a physically strong squad. The team boasts a world-class player in Mohammed Kudus, whose goal secured Ghana’s World Cup qualification. Group L, featuring England and Croatia, is a challenge—but Ghana is capable of pulling off surprises.

Coach Carlos Queiroz has named three goalkeepers for the Black Stars: Benjamin Asare, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, and Joseph Anang. Ghana is participating in the World Cup for the fourth time—following appearances in 2006, 2010, and 2022—and will face Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L. The trio of goalkeepers tells three very different stories: A 33-year-old who played completely under the radar for years and is suddenly the nation’s number one, a longtime starting goalkeeper who could find himself on the bench for the first time, and a 25-year-old from the West Ham academy who once played for England.

Asare’s story is one of the most unlikely in the entire World Cup field. For years, he played in the Ghana Premier League, first for Accra City Stars and then for Great Olympics, without ever catching the eye of the national team. The low point came with Great Olympics’ relegation at the end of the 2023–24 season. Shortly thereafter, he transferred to Hearts of Oak, where he delivered one of the most consistent goalkeeping performances in the league and was called up to the senior national team for the first time in March 2025. What followed caught Ghana’s attention: two qualifying matches, two shutouts, a 5-0 win over Chad, and a 3-0 victory over Madagascar. Coach Otto Addo subsequently declared him the number one goalkeeper. Throughout the qualifiers, Asare played in six matches and conceded only one goal. Hearts of Oak extended his contract through 2027, and he was named Male Home-Based Footballer of the Year at the SWAG Awards.

Ati-Zigi is 29 years old, was born in Tamale, and has been the starting goalkeeper for FC St. Gallen in the Swiss Super League since 2020. He made his way there via Red Bull Ghana, Red Bull Salzburg, FC Liefering, and Sochaux before moving to Switzerland, where he established himself as a fan favorite with over 200 competitive appearances. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he played in all three group stage matches and was the undisputed number one for the Black Stars for years. Then came Asare.

What makes the situation particularly interesting now: Ati-Zigi is finishing the 2025/26 season in perhaps the best form of his career. St. Gallen won the Swiss Cup, the club’s first title since 1969, and Ati-Zigi was a key factor in that success. Coach Queiroz and the Ghanaian public are watching this closely. Asare’s mistake against Mexico gives Ati-Zigi a real chance to start the tournament.

Anang is 25 years old and has had a career path that could hardly have been more straightforward. Born in Teshie near Accra, he grew up in England and went through the entire West Ham Academy from 2017 to 2024, including loan spells at Stevenage and Derby County. He played for the English U-20 national team before deciding to represent Ghana. What makes his story special: His first loan to St. Patrick’s Athletic in Dublin in 2022 became a labor of love. He kept 12 clean sheets in six months, played every minute, and returned on a permanent contract after leaving West Ham in 2024. He was named the club’s Player of the Year in 2025. He has made only one senior appearance for Ghana so far, but at 25, he is the goalkeeper with the brightest future prospects among the trio.