Ghana midfielder Elisha Owusu has set his sights firmly on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the tournament as the ultimate dream for any footballer.
Owusu, who made his Black Stars debut in 2022, helped the country qualify for the 2022 World Cup but failed to play a single minute.
So far in the qualifiers for the 2026 edition, the Auxerre midfielder has featured in two games and will hope to play a bigger role as the competition draws near.
The 27-year-old in an interview with Flashscore recently shared his deep passion and expectations for representing Ghana on football’s biggest stage.
“The World Cup is the biggest tournament for a footballer because you dream of it from childhood,” he said.
“Playing for your country at the biggest stage, with everyone watching, it’s crazy, and you feel proud. It’s difficult to describe such a feeling in words.”
Owusu’s journey toward the 2026 World Cup has not been without setbacks. In March 2025, he was forced to withdraw from Ghana’s qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar due to injury, a disappointment he openly acknowledged.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to join the squad for our FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to injury, but I have full confidence in my teammates to get the job done,” he wrote on social media. “It’s never easy to miss out, but I believe everything happens for a reason, and my focus now is on recovery. I know this team is ready to fight, and I’ll be supporting every step of the way.”
Despite the setback, Owusu remains resolute in his ambition. “I am looking forward to the 2026 World Cup. Every Ghanaian player is working hard to have the chance to be in the final squad. When you work hard, you want to be in the squad for the World Cup. I train every day and work hard to try and be in the squad for the tournament next year,” he added.
Ghana are currently top of Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and took giant step towards qualification after two straight wins in March against Chad and Madagascar.
