With just 35 days until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, the countdown is heating up—and so is the story of one veteran coach chasing a piece of history. Carlos Queiroz, the seasoned tactician who barely had time to pack his bags in Oman before Ghana came calling, is set to tie legendary coach Bora Milutinović by leading his fifth different nation at the tournament.

Here's the backstory: Queiroz was let go by Oman in March, but by April, the 73-year-old was already back in the saddle, hired by the Black Stars after Otto Addo was dismissed following a fourth straight loss. Now, when Queiroz steps onto the sidelines this summer, he'll join Milutinović in second place all-time for World Cup appearances as a coach—trailing only Carlos Alberto Parreira's record of six. And here's the twist: while Parreira managed five different countries, Queiroz will be steering his third distinct nation into the global spotlight.

Ghana, already qualified, finds itself in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama. It's a tough draw, but Queiroz has been here before. His first taste of the World Cup nearly came in 2002 with South Africa, but he resigned just three months before kickoff. Eight years later, he managed Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. Then came a historic run with Iran, where he guided the team to three straight tournaments and became the longest-serving manager in the country's national team history.

For Ghana, this is a chance to rewrite recent history. The Black Stars have qualified for the World Cup four times but have failed to advance past the group stage in their last two appearances (2022 and 2014). Adding to the pressure, they also missed out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 21 years. With Queiroz's experience and tactical savvy, the team will be hoping to turn the tide—and maybe make a little history of their own.