The Ghanaian government is reportedly making provisions to secure tickets for Ghanaians living abroad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as part of efforts to provide massive support for the Black Stars of Ghana at football’s biggest tournament.
- +Ghanaian government to fund 1,000 World Cup tickets for diaspora fans
According to reports from Ghanaian media, the initiative is backed by President John Dramani Mahama as part of a broader strategy to rally support for the national team during the tournament.
According to reports from Ghanaian media, the initiative is backed by President John Dramani Mahama as part of a broader strategy to rally support for the national team during the tournament.
The government plans to distribute approximately 1,000 World Cup tickets to members of the Ghanaian diaspora, particularly those residing in the United Kingdom and the United States.
President Mahama, however, defended his decision not to sponsor mass travel for supporters to the tournament, arguing that spending an estimated $11,000 on a single fan would be an irresponsible use of public funds at a time when the government is pursuing fiscal discipline.
Speaking during a diaspora town hall meeting in London, Mahama said the government could not justify covering travel, accommodation, feeding and match tickets for supporters. Instead, he explained that the focus would be on helping diaspora-based Ghanaians gain access to match tickets.
Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Iddie Adams, has assured Ghanaians abroad that the ticket allocation process will be transparent and fair.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Adams said the tickets are intended to enable members of the diaspora to support the Black Stars during the tournament.
“Ghanaians in the United States alone are more than a thousand. Even if all the tickets were allocated to them, not everyone would get one. Therefore, if you do not receive a ticket, it should not be taken to mean that the process lacked transparency,” he said.
“We will ensure that the process is transparent and open, and the public will be informed about how the tickets are allocated.”
The programme follows an earlier announcement by President Mahama during a town hall meeting in London, where he pledged government support to facilitate the participation of 1,000 Ghanaians in the diaspora at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The initiative is designed to boost support for the Black Stars as they seek a strong showing at the expanded 48-team tournament.
Meanwhile, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz has named a 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Panama.
Ghana will be hoping to make a strong impression at the expanded tournament as they seek to advance beyond the group stage and challenge for global honours.
