0
0 Ghana will step up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an international friendly against Mexico in May, as both nations intensify plans ahead of the tournament in North America.
The match is scheduled for Friday, May 22, 2026, at a yet-to-be-announced venue in Mexico. It forms part of a broader programme of preparatory fixtures designed to fine-tune squads before the global showpiece, which will be hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.
Ghana’s squad for the friendly is expected to feature a blend of locally based players and those competing in European leagues who remain under close observation by head coach Otto Addo. Some Under-23 players, who are also preparing for Olympic Games qualifiers, are likely to be included as the technical team assesses options and squad depth ahead of the tournament.
The Mexico fixture will be Ghana’s third confirmed preparatory match, following earlier announcements of friendlies against Austria and Germany during the next FIFA international window in March. Otto Addo and his backroom staff are expected to name their squad for the Austria and Germany matches in the coming days, with the encounter against Mexico further strengthening the Black Stars’ build-up schedule.
After facing Mexico, Ghana will take on two other unnamed opponents before the start of the World Cup. The Black Stars will open their tournament campaign against Panama on June 17, before meeting England and Croatia in the remaining Group L matches, as they seek to make a strong impression on the global stage.
Mexico, meanwhile, will begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa in the opening match on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. They will then face one of South Korea, Czech Republic, Denmark, Republic of Ireland or North Macedonia in the remaining Group A fixtures.
The Mexican Football Federation confirmed that Ghana forms part of a trio of high-profile warm-up matches lined up before the tournament. Mexico will face Ghana on May 22 at home, followed by Australia eight days later at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, before returning to Mexico to play Serbia on June 4 at a venue yet to be decided.
“These are the ideal opponents to help prepare the national team for the World Cup,” said Ivar Sisniega, president of the Mexican Football Federation.
Prior to those fixtures, Mexico will host Iceland on February 25 in Querétaro and Portugal in Mexico City on March 28, before travelling to Chicago to face Belgium on March 31.
The friendly against Portugal will also mark the reopening of the Azteca Stadium, which has been closed since May 2024. Addressing concerns about the venue’s readiness, Sisniega said: “We´ve been told that the stadium will be ready, that the pitch will be in good condition, and that the stands and the spaces for the match will be ready. There is no Plan B; we will play on March 28 as scheduled, and there is no other scenario being considered.”
With both Ghana and Mexico finalising their preparations, the May friendly is expected to provide a crucial test as the countdown to the 2026 World Cup gathers momentum.
