Overview:

Hartford Athletic goalkeeper coach Dan Gaspar has been named to the technical staff of the Ghana national team for the World Cup.

Dan Gaspar also has been an assistant coach for Portugal and Iran. (Photo courtesy of Hartford Athletic)

HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford Athletic goalkeeper coach Dan Gaspar has been named to the technical staff of the Ghana national team for the World Cup.

Gaspar has served in similar roles on the Portugal and Iran national teams in past World Cups. He was on the Portugal staff in 2010 and with Iran in 2014 and 2018.

“Representing Ghana on the world stage in my home country is an incredible honor. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to get to work with such a talented group of players and staff. Competing at the World Cup again is a dream come true. I’m fully committed to helping the team prepare, perform, and make our supporters proud,” Gaspar said. “Special thank you to Hartford Athletic’s Brendan Burke and the rest of the coaching staff as well as the management team to allow me to this incredible opportunity. I will represent Hartford Athletic with pride and honor.”

Gaspar and Ghana’s head coach, Carlos Queiroz, have worked together severlk times over the last three decades.

“This represents Dan’s fourth World Cup on the sidelines. A tremendous lifetime achievement for anyone. We are truly lucky to have him as part of our technical staff here in Hartford. He has been instrumental to our [USL] Cup run last year and Antony [Siaha]’s meteoric development,” said Burke, Hartford’s head coach and general manager. “His mentorship of me on all matters has made me a better manager and coach over the last two and a half years. Our entire roster, technical staff, and organization are excited for him and his team to chase the World Cup one month from now.”

Hired by Hartford in 2022, Gaspar has been instrumental in taking the team to new heights, resulting in two of the most successful seasons in club history in 2024 and 2025. Last season, he helped guide Hartford to a USL Jägermeister Cup victory, the club’s first hardware. This season, Hartford has recorded four clean sheets in seven league matches.

Ghana, which will compete in Group L, with open the tournament against Panama in Toronto on June 17 at p.m., will face England in Foxborough, Mass. on June 23 and Croatia in Philadelphia on June 27.