President John Dramani Mahama has ruled out government funding for the mass travel of Ghanaian supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the estimated cost of about $11,000 per fan as too high for the state to bear.
Speaking at a diaspora town hall meeting in London on Sunday, May 31, the President said the financial demands of transporting, accommodating, feeding, and securing match tickets for fans make such an arrangement unrealistic under current economic conditions.
“We cannot, you know, spend our money in that manner. The cost approximates for each person to be fed, accommodated, transported, and all that to watch the games, tickets, and all that is estimated at almost $11,000,” he stated.
President Mahama explained that the expanded format of the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, significantly increases logistical and financial pressures compared to previous tournaments held in a single country.
He noted that Ghana’s Group L fixtures in Toronto, Boston, and Philadelphia would make large-scale fan travel even more expensive and difficult to manage.
Instead of sponsoring travel from Ghana, the President announced a shift in strategy focused on Ghanaian communities in the diaspora.
“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.
He encouraged Ghanaians abroad to link up with recognised community groups in host cities to benefit from the arrangement, assuring that the process would be properly coordinated.
Ghana will face Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L, with their opening match scheduled for June 17 in Toronto.
