Queiroz becomes oldest winning coach in World Cup history as Ghana starts qualifiers with victory

Carlos Queiroz has etched his name in World Cup history, becoming the oldest coach to secure a victory at the tournament. At 73 years and 3 months old, the veteran manager led Ghana to a crucial 1-0 win over Panama in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The victory, achieved in the early hours of November 18th (Korean time), places Ghana in a favorable position to advance to the next stage of the competition. This marks Ghana's fifth appearance in the World Cup finals, and the team's strong start signals their intent to make a deep run.

Queiroz, often referred to by the nickname '주먹감자' (Jumeok Gamja, meaning 'fist potato' or 'punching potato' in Korean, often used to imply a jinx or bad luck), has now overcome past challenges to lead his team to a historic achievement. The win against Panama sets a positive tone for Ghana's campaign, as they aim to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches.