Fans waving Ghanaian flags lined the entrance of the team's hotel on Tuesday, cheering, applauding and filming the arrival of players and coaching staff as excitement built ahead of Wednesday's Group L clash.

"It's very nice to see everybody come together as a community. It's very nice seeing a lot of Ghanaians in one spot. You know, it's very good that we stand together," one supporter said.

The warm reception came as Ghana prepared to begin its fifth FIFA World Cup appearance under veteran Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz.

The Black Stars will, however, start the tournament without midfielder Thomas Partey after Canadian authorities refused his visa application.

FIFA confirmed that Partey was unable to travel from Ghana's base in Boston to Canada but stated that immigration decisions were the responsibility of the host country's authorities.

Partey faces seven rape charges and one sexual assault charge in Britain over alleged offences between 2020 and 2022. He has pleaded not guilty. His trial, originally scheduled for November 2026, has been postponed until June 2027.

The former Arsenal midfielder, now with Villarreal, remains eligible to join the squad when Ghana returns to the United States for group-stage matches against England and Croatia.

Ghana's best World Cup performance came in 2010 when the team reached the quarter-finals before losing to Uruguay in a penalty shootout.

Queiroz, appointed in April, is taking charge of his fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup, matching the record held by Bora Milutinovic.

This trend shows how intensifying human activity is putting ever greater pressure on Earth’s water and land systems. But what’s driving this growth, and what does it mean for our future?

Several forces are pushing freshwater demand upward. Agriculture continues to be the heaviest water user globally. As food production expands to feed growing populations, more irrigation, fertilisers, and water-intensive crops are deployed.

Industry, too, plays a big role. Manufacturing, energy production, and processing all require water—not just for cooling and rinsing, but as a direct input into many industrial processes.

Urbanisation adds another layer of demand. As cities grow, water is needed not only for households, but for infrastructure , landscaping, public services, and sanitation.

Meanwhile, climate change adds uncertainty. Erratic rainfall, shifting weather patterns, and warming trends affect how much water is available, when, and where.

According to Our World in Data , global freshwater withdrawals have climbed sharply since the mid-20th century, though growth has begun to slow in some regions. Still, pressures remain high, especially in countries with limited renewable water resources.

A recent paper in MDPI highlights that shifts in water use efficiency, technological adoption, and policy interventions will be crucial for balancing demand with sustainability.

The UN World Water Development Report 2024 also emphasises water’s role not just in agriculture and industry, but in peace, stability, and equitable development. It argues that water, when managed fairly, can support social cohesion, but mismanagement can fuel conflicts.

These global dynamics don’t exist in a vacuum. In many parts of the world, water scarcity is already a driver of migration, social stress, and geopolitical tension. In the Horn of Africa, for example, prolonged droughts have contributed to displacement and competition over shared river systems.

Meanwhile, the push for green technology has implications for water use. Solar panel manufacturing, battery production, and data centres all demand water, sometimes in unexpected amounts.

In parts of Africa, researchers have begun estimating water consumption tied to computing infrastructure, underscoring how even digital growth is connected to natural resources.

The decisive goal came from Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mohammed Kudus, whose strike ensured Ghana’s place in the tournament and marked the country's fifth World Cup appearance since its debut in 2006.

Ghana topped Group I in the African qualifiers with 25 points, finishing six points ahead of Madagascar. The Black Stars now join Algeria, Egypt , Morocco, and Tunisia as the African nations already qualified for the 2026 edition.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be the first to feature 48 teams, is set to be jointly hosted by the United States , Canada, and Mexico.