The Ghana national football team, also known as the Black Stars, has arrived in Rhode Island for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Eugene 'Kofi' Appiah, a local resident, felt like he was part of a family reunion as he welcomed the team at the Graduate hotel in Providence. Appiah and his friends are planning to host watch parties to follow Ghana's run in the World Cup. Since making its FIFA World Cup debut in 2006, Ghana is coming into its fifth tournament ranked 73rd in the world. Chief Nana Awuah Panin III hopes Rhode Islanders will count them as the hometown team. The Black Stars chose Bryant University as its base because it's much quieter and closer to Foxboro than Boston. On Friday, accompanied by Rhode Island state police, Ghana's Black Stars arrived at Bryant University for their first practice session. Star player Antoine Semenyo, a standout at English Premier League giants Manchester City, walked on to the pitch wearing a yellow jersey with number 11 on it. The team will kick off its tournament run next week in Toronto against Panama. Ghana comes into the tournament with some pedigree, having made it to the quarterfinals in 2010. But they failed to advance past the group stage in 2014 and 2022. The achievement is what the team is looking for, according to Chief Nana Awuah Panin III. Ruth Saah of Pawtucket said meeting the team was an amazing opportunity. She wants to attend a team practice with her son. Augie Boadi, a Ghanaian and recent Bryant University graduate, was ecstatic to see the team choose his campus as their home base for the tournament. No words can describe it, he said, as two of his homes came together through a sport he's loved since he was a kid. The Black Stars made their way off the bus and into the strength and conditioning facility as sounds of Afrobeat wafted through the air. Moments later, Semenyo and his teammates gathered in a circle, arms interlocked, and began their drills. The team's coach shouted instructions as players exchanged quick passes. Let's go, he said. The team's run in the World Cup will be closely watched by fans in Rhode Island and around the world. With their underdog status, the Black Stars will look to overcome the odds and make a strong run in the tournament. And with their base in Rhode Island, they will have the support of the local community behind them. But the road ahead will be tough, with matches against top teams like England and Croatia. So the Black Stars will need to be at their best if they want to advance past the group stage. The team's first match is just around the corner, and fans are eagerly awaiting the kickoff. As the Black Stars take to the pitch, they will be looking to make a statement and prove themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the World Cup.