President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will be unable to finance the participation of large numbers of supporters of the national football team, the Black Stars, at the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to financial constraints. He disclosed that the cost of transporting, accommodating, feeding, and providing tickets for each supporter would be approximately $11,000, which exceeds the country’s financial capabilities.
Instead of sponsoring substantial groups of fans from Ghana, the government intends to collaborate with registered supporters’ unions and Ghanaian communities abroad. President Mahama highlighted that supporters’ unions have a longstanding tradition of independently following the Black Stars to major tournaments, which will continue.
The government plans to procure tickets for Ghanaians residing in the diaspora who wish to attend the matches. President Mahama emphasized the commitment to fiscal discipline and stated that the government cannot justify the allocation of public funds for transporting supporters to the tournament, which will be held in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. He pointed out that the logistics and travel arrangements are particularly costly due to the tournament’s structure, with Ghana’s matches scheduled across various cities.
Furthermore, President Mahama encouraged Ghanaians intending to travel independently to the World Cup to seek ticket access through official channels. The government is organizing Ghanaian communities in cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and Canada to receive tickets purchased for diaspora supporters eager to support the national team.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first instance of the tournament being hosted across three countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
