President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans for the government to provide match tickets for Ghanaians living abroad who wish to support the Ghana national football team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking at a diaspora town hall meeting on Sunday, May 31, President Mahama said the initiative is aimed at enabling Ghanaian communities in host cities to attend matches and rally behind the Black Stars during the global tournament.
The President, however, made it clear that the government would not be able to fully sponsor large numbers of supporters travelling from Ghana, stressing the need for responsible management of public resources.
According to him, the 2026 World Cup, which will be staged across multiple host countries, presents significant logistical and financial challenges that make the traditional practice of funding supporters’ travel unsustainable.
President Mahama explained that covering airfare, accommodation, meals and match tickets for fans travelling from Ghana would place a considerable burden on the national budget.
He estimated that the total cost of supporting a single fan throughout the tournament could reach nearly $11,000, making large-scale sponsorship financially impractical under current economic conditions.
Instead, the government intends to focus its support on members of the Ghanaian diaspora by providing match tickets, allowing them to attend games and cheer on the national team without bearing the full cost of participation.
The President said the approach would ensure strong Ghanaian representation at World Cup venues while maintaining fiscal discipline and avoiding excessive expenditure of public funds.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the first World Cup to be staged across three countries.
