President John Dramani Mahama has announced a new approach to supporting Ghanaian fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, revealing that the government will provide match tickets for Ghanaians living abroad rather than fully sponsoring large groups of supporters travelling from Ghana.
Speaking at a diaspora town hall meeting on Sunday, May 31, the President said the decision was informed by the need to manage public expenditure responsibly while still ensuring strong support for the Black Stars during the tournament.
According to him, the unique nature of the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, makes traditional fan sponsorship programmes significantly more expensive than in previous editions.
President Mahama explained that covering travel, accommodation, feeding, and match tickets for large numbers of supporters from Ghana would impose an unsustainable financial burden on the state.
He estimated that supporting a single fan throughout the competition could cost close to $11,000, making it impractical for government to fund large-scale travel arrangements under current economic conditions.
Instead, the government has decided to focus its support on Ghanaian communities already resident in host cities, with plans to procure match tickets that will be distributed through organised diaspora groups and community associations.
“We are procuring tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora who want to attend the games,” the President said, adding that Ghanaian communities in cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, and parts of Canada are being mobilised to support the national team during the tournament.
He noted that recognised Ghanaian associations abroad would play a key role in coordinating ticket distribution and ensuring that supporters have the opportunity to attend matches and cheer on the Black Stars.
President Mahama also encouraged Ghanaians living abroad who intend to travel to World Cup venues to engage with established community groups to facilitate access to the ticket allocation process.
The announcement forms part of preparations for Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and reflects the government’s effort to balance fan engagement with prudent management of public resources.
Under the arrangement, authorities hope to create a vibrant support base for the Black Stars across host cities while avoiding the high costs associated with previous government-sponsored supporter travel programmes.
