Government says it will prioritise securing World Cup tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora to support the Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while ruling out state-funded travel for fans due to cost concerns.
President John Dramani Mahama said this at a town hall meeting in the United Kingdom on Sunday, May 31, during his official visit.
He said the cost of transport, feeding, ticketing, and accommodating supporters would be too high for the state to fund.
He estimated the total cost at nearly $11,000 per supporter, describing it as beyond the government’s fiscal capacity.
“The cost of transporting, feeding, tickets and accommodating each supporter is estimated at almost $11,000. That is beyond our means. We are being fiscally disciplined, and we cannot spend our money in that manner,” he said.
Instead, he said the government will not organise mass travel packages from Ghana. It will focus on engaging supporter unions and helping to secure match tickets for Ghanaians already living abroad to attend games.
The plan shifts emphasis toward diaspora-based support, with fan groups expected to play a central role in coordinating attendance at matches.
“So, we are focused on the supporters union, and we are procuring tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora to go and watch the games.”
🎥 🇬🇭 “Transporting, feeding, ticketing and accommodating each supporter is estimated to cost almost $11,000, which is beyond our means.”
“We have committed to fiscal discipline and cannot spend public funds in that manner,” —President John Mahama.#CitiSports pic.twitter.com/huBpqk2XSa
— Citi Sports (@CitiSportsGHA) May 31, 2026
