The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has reiterated that selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad will remain strictly based on merit, ruling out the implementation of any quota system to guarantee spots for locally based players.
This is in response to growing calls for automatic inclusion of Ghana Premier League talents ahead of this summer's tournament.
GFA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum addressed the debate directly, stating, "No quota has been set for local players. Black Stars selections have always been based on merit, not on whether a player is local or abroad."
He emphasised that performance is the sole criterion for national team recognition, regardless of where a player competes.
The debate over quotas has intensified following Ghana's qualification for the World Cup, as domestic clubs stand to benefit financially from FIFA's Club Benefits Programme when their players participate in the tournament. Despite these potential incentives, the GFA maintains its commitment to selecting the strongest possible squad.
To illustrate the existing meritocracy, Asante Twum cited recent examples of homegrown talent who earned call-ups through performance alone. "Players like Afriyie Barnieh, Danlad Ibrahim, Richmond Lamptey, and most recently Benjamin Asare earned their call-ups purely through performance—no one begged for them," he explained. "The same principle applies to every player: wherever you are, if your performance warrants it, you will be called up."
The Black Stars, drawn in Group L, will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 in Toronto, before facing England in Boston and concluding the group stage against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.
As preparations intensify, the GFA's reaffirmation of its selection philosophy underscores its commitment to fielding Ghana's most competitive team on the global stage.
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