Ghana’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, has announced that the government will not provide funding to transport supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Speaking to Peace FM, Mr. Adams explained that the decision was influenced by the country’s current economic situation, stressing that the focus should instead be on developing local sports infrastructure.
“While supporters have always been part of our football culture, the government has not indicated that it will send supporters to the World Cup,” the minister said. “We are in a period of austerity. If we spend that money to fly fans to America, the same amount could build five multipurpose parks in our communities.”
The minister, however, encouraged private individuals and corporate bodies to step in and support fan travel if they wished.
“Anyone who wants to go can find their own resources. We can facilitate their travel documents,” Mr. Adams added. “Government can collaborate with corporate Ghana to assist fans, but it won’t come from the state budget.”
Ghana qualified for the 2026 World Cup after topping Group I of the African qualifiers with 25 points. The Black Stars are set to discover their group-stage opponents when the official draw takes place on December 5 in Washington, D.C.
The announcement marks a shift from previous tournaments, where government support often covered a portion of fan travel, signaling a new era of fiscal restraint and prioritization of domestic sports development.
