The 2026 World Cup is barely a week old, and already the tournament has its first major feud — and it doesn’t involve any players on the pitch. Roy Keane, the notoriously blunt former Manchester United captain, has unloaded on his old assistant coach Carlos Queiroz in a jaw-dropping on-air rant that has fans and insiders buzzing.
Keane, working as a pundit for ITV’s England coverage, was asked to assess Ghana’s chances under Queiroz — the 73-year-old Portuguese tactician who now leads the Black Stars in what is his sixth World Cup as a manager. But instead of offering a measured take, Keane went for the jugular, delivering what sources close to the situation are calling a ‘personal and unnecessary’ attack.
“I just hope they don’t become too defensive,” Keane said, according to reports. “One of Carlos’s biggest strengths was his defensive side of the game. Brilliant coach, huge question marks over him as a manager. I felt like he had the personality of a dead fish when I worked with him.”
The comment has sent shockwaves through the football world, with many wondering what exactly happened between the two during their time together at Old Trafford. Insiders claim this is not the first time Keane has taken aim at Queiroz, and sources say there is ‘clearly no love lost’ between the fiery Irishman and the veteran coach.
But Keane isn’t stopping there. The former midfield general — known for his spiky punditry — has reportedly been on a tear lately, taking shots at anyone connected to Manchester United. Just weeks ago, he was embroiled in a very public spat with current United skipper Bruno Fernandes over the Portuguese star’s Premier League assist record. Although Keane and Fernandes have reportedly patched things up over the phone, the pattern is becoming impossible to ignore.
“It’s getting a little bit over the top now,” one observer told us. “His disdain for everything United is starting to feel personal. Fans are wondering if there’s something deeper going on.”
For Queiroz, the timing couldn’t be worse. Ghana are viewed as a potential dark horse in Group H, with the knockout stage within reach — but Keane’s comments have added an extra layer of pressure. Sources close to the Ghana camp say the team is aware of the remarks, but they are reportedly ‘focused on the task at hand.’
Meanwhile, ITV executives are reportedly thrilled with the drama Keane is bringing to their World Cup coverage. With more controversial one-liners almost certainly on the way, United players — past and present — may want to brace themselves.
As for Queiroz? He’ll have to prove Keane wrong on the pitch. And you can bet the cameras will be ready to capture his reaction if Ghana pulls off an upset.
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