Joseph Paintsil could miss another FIFA World Cup after Ghana left him out of the Black Stars squad for their training camp in Cardiff and upcoming friendly against Wales.
The decision has sparked debate among Ghanaian football fans. Many supporters believed the winger had done enough at club level to earn a place in the team preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Paintsil has impressed for LA Galaxy this season. The 28-year-old has scored three goals and provided two assists in 11 MLS appearances.
His performances in the United States increased expectations that he would play an important role for Ghana at the tournament in North America.
However, head coach Carlos Queiroz excluded him from the provisional squad for the Black Stars’ World Cup preparations.
The omission has revived memories of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Paintsil also missed out on that tournament despite strong club performances.
Former Ghana coach Otto Addo previously said the winger’s absence was not because of a lack of quality.
Paintsil has remained part of Ghana’s national team setup in recent years. He also contributed during the Black Stars’ World Cup qualifying campaign.
That is why many fans see his latest omission as one of the biggest surprises ahead of the tournament.
Ghana national football team have already started training at Dragon Park in Cardiff before their friendly against Wales national football team on June 2.
After the match, Ghana will travel to North America for the World Cup. The Black Stars are in Group L alongside England national football team, Croatia national football team and Panama national football team.
Paintsil’s path to the World Cup now looks difficult. The final 26-man squad will likely come from the current group in camp.
Unless injuries or tactical changes happen, the winger could once again miss football’s biggest tournament.
Despite the setback, many supporters still regard Paintsil as one of Ghana’s most exciting attacking players because of his pace, creativity and consistency.
