Joseph Paintsil’s hopes of representing Ghana at another FIFA World Cup have suffered a major setback after the winger was left out of the Black Stars’ 28-man squad for their preparation camp in Cardiff and upcoming international friendly against Wales.
The omission has sparked widespread debate among Ghanaian football fans, many of whom believed the talented attacker had done enough at club level to secure his place in the team heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 28-year-old winger has been one of the bright spots for LA Galaxy this season, delivering impressive performances in Major League Soccer. Paintsil has scored three goals and provided two assists in just 11 appearances, showing consistency, pace, creativity, and attacking quality. His form in the United States raised expectations that he would become an important part of Ghana’s squad for the tournament in North America.
However, when head coach Carlos Queiroz announced the provisional squad for the Black Stars’ World Cup preparations, Paintsil’s name was noticeably absent.
The decision immediately revived memories of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he was also surprisingly excluded despite enjoying strong club performances at the time.
Back then, former Ghana coach Otto Addo insisted that Paintsil’s omission was not due to a lack of quality. Yet four years later, the winger once again finds himself facing the painful possibility of missing football’s biggest tournament.
Paintsil has remained a regular figure in Ghana’s national team setup in recent years and contributed during the Black Stars’ World Cup qualifying campaign.
That is why his exclusion from the current preparation camp has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the national team ahead of the tournament.
The Black Stars have already begun training at Dragon Park in Cardiff as they prepare for their friendly clash against Wales national football team on June 2.
After the match, Ghana will travel to North America for the World Cup, where they have been placed in a challenging Group L alongside England national football team, Croatia national football team, and Panama national football team.
For Paintsil, the road to the World Cup now appears uncertain. With the final 26-man squad expected to be selected from the current group in camp, his chances of making the tournament seem increasingly slim unless injuries or late tactical changes force the coaching staff to reconsider.
Despite his consistent displays in MLS and his commitment to the national team, the winger may once again be forced to watch the World Cup from afar.
Many supporters will feel sympathy for Paintsil, whose talent and determination have never been in doubt.
Football, however, can often be cruel, and selection decisions remain one of the toughest aspects of the game. Whether or not he eventually earns a late call-up, Joseph Paintsil’s resilience and performances continue to show that he remains one of Ghana’s most exciting attacking players.
Source:3news.com