Canada has set its sights on leveraging the global spotlight of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to deepen diplomatic, cultural and economic ties with Ghana, using football as a bridge between the two nations.
At a Black History Month 2026 celebration held at the Accra Sports Stadium, the Canadian High Commission in Ghana underscored plans to strengthen engagement with Ghana ahead of the tournament, which Canada will co-host.
The event, organised in partnership with the National Sports Authority (NSA), Tribe Culture Fest and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), highlighted the influence of Black excellence in football and the unifying power of sport.
Speaking at the gathering, Madam Françoise Nduwimana, Chargée d’affaires at the High Commission, described the World Cup as a timely opportunity to showcase shared values and longstanding cooperation between Ghana and Canada. She noted that Canadians were eager to welcome the Black Stars to Toronto for their opening match and reaffirmed the importance of Ghana’s vibrant diaspora community in shaping Canadian society.
She pointed to football’s popularity among African and Caribbean communities in Canada, where the sport has become a vehicle for integration and community-building. Referencing players of Ghanaian descent such as Richie Laryea, Stephen Afrifa and Kwasi Poku, she said their success symbolised the strong human connections between the two countries.
Madam Nduwimana also recalled that Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal, scored in 2022 by Alphonso Davies — who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana — embodied a shared story of resilience and opportunity.
Beyond symbolism, she announced practical steps to boost engagement, revealing that Air Transat would introduce a new direct flight between Toronto and Accra days before Ghana’s first World Cup fixture, a move expected to enhance tourism, trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Mr Anthony Baffoe, General Secretary of PFAG, described the occasion as a celebration of legacy and identity, stressing that footballers serve as ambassadors whose impact extends far beyond the pitch.
Representing the NSA, Chief Operations Officer Yaw Gyemfi Kusi Awere welcomed the collaboration and expressed optimism about the global football festival.
The celebration drew several Ghanaian football legends, including Samuel Osei Kuffour, Augustine Arhinful, Kwame Ayew, Yaw Acheampong and Majeed Warris, reinforcing the shared heritage that continues to link Ghana and Canada through the beautiful game.
