Ghana coach Carlos Queiroz has slammed the expanded World Cup format, calling it 'vulgar and ordinary' after his team's 2-1 loss to Croatia.

What happened?

The Black Stars progressed to the knockout stage despite the loss, as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the new 48-team tournament. Last result: Germany 2-1 Ghana (2026-03-30). Recent form: 1W-0D-4L.

Why it matters for Ghana

Queiroz's criticism started before the tournament and reached a crescendo in a confusing end to the group stage. Some final group games fell flat, with teams willing to settle for a draw. But the format has also produced extraordinary scenes, like the 3-3 draw between Algeria and Austria.

What comes next?

Ghana will face a new challenge in the knockout stage, with the traditional round of 16 replaced by a round of 32. The Black Stars will need to adapt quickly to the new format. | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-30 | Germany | 2-1 loss | | 2026-06-29 | Croatia | 2-1 loss | The team's recent form has been concerning, with four consecutive losses before the World Cup. But with the expanded format, Ghana still has a chance to make a deep run in the tournament.