2026 World Cup: Government to Provide Match Tickets for Diaspora Fans – Mahama
President says fiscal constraints rule out full sponsorship for travelling supporters from Ghana.
- Government will procure World Cup match tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora.
- Tickets will be distributed through organised Ghanaian communities and supporters' groups
- Government will not fully sponsor fans travelling from Ghana due to high costs
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will procure match tickets for Ghanaians living abroad who wish to support the Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking during a diaspora town hall meeting on Sunday, May 31, the President said the initiative is intended to ensure that Ghanaian communities in host cities have the opportunity to attend matches and rally behind the national team during the global football tournament.
Mr. Mahama, however, noted that unlike previous World Cup campaigns, the government will not be able to fully sponsor large numbers of supporters travelling from Ghana due to the significant financial implications involved and the need to maintain fiscal discipline.
He explained that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across three countries, presents a much higher cost burden, making it impractical for the state to fund transportation, accommodation, feeding and match tickets for supporters travelling from Ghana.
According to the President, the total cost of supporting a single fan throughout the tournament could reach nearly $11,000, making large-scale sponsorship unsustainable under the current economic circumstances.
As a result, government support will be directed primarily at organised supporters’ groups and Ghanaian communities already residing in host cities.
“What we are doing is that we are procuring tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora who want to attend the games. So if you want to attend the game, you will get a ticket to attend the game,” he said.
“We have organised our chapters, our Ghanaian citizens in Boston, Philadelphia and Canada. The tickets that we have purchased, we will give to them to enable them to watch the matches,” he added.
President Mahama also encouraged Ghanaians abroad who plan to travel to match venues to engage with recognised Ghanaian community groups, indicating that measures are being put in place to ensure fair and transparent distribution of the tickets.
