Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has described the Black Stars’ 2–1 defeat to Croatia as a learning experience rather than a setback, insisting the team is focused on the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking after Saturday’s match at Lincoln Financial Field, Queiroz said the group stage served as preparation for the more decisive rounds of the competition.

“We win or we learn. Today we learn,” he said. “And we learn to be better prepared for the World Championship. The real World Championship starts in the next game.”

He added that the group stage should be viewed as part of the qualification process rather than the main objective.

“Group stage, it is warming up for the qualification,” he said. “Qualification is not a destination. Qualification is just a credit card that you receive to deserve to be in this stage of the competition.”

Queiroz said the knockout phase would be entirely different, stressing that every match would now carry elimination stakes.

“Now we have to pay the price of having that credit card in your pocket. And these kinds of games are really when the World Cup starts. Everything to the winner, nothing to the loser,” he said.

He added that the nature of the competition would demand greater intensity from all teams.

“So that means that every single game is about drama. Nobody can hide anything since the first minute. Everybody must go for it and put everything in the game,” he said. “And play really the knockout stage with that spirit of entertainment and drama, emotional. That’s the real World Cup that starts next game.”

Queiroz, who has now overseen four matches in charge, said the game provided useful insights into the squad’s performance and tactical adjustments, including the switch to a 4–4–2 formation in the second half.

“The best thing of this game is what we learned from the game,” he said. “We learned a lot of things in terms of our evolution, our progress.”