Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has signalled the country’s readiness to pursue a joint bid with Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire to co-host a future FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on the back of FIFA’s recent preference for multi-nation hosting arrangements, Adams said the trend creates a realistic opening for West Africa to present a united bid on the global stage.
With the United States, Mexico and Canada set to co-host the 2026 tournament, and Morocco, Spain and Portugal selected for 2030, the minister believes the door is now open for African neighbours to follow suit.
“They [FIFA] are beginning to adopt a number of nations doing it, so maybe who knows, the next one could be Ghana, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire coming together to host the World Cup, and it will be good,” he said.
Adams added that the three countries have already made significant infrastructural investments, particularly Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, which recently hosted major continental tournaments.
“I believe that we, together with Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, who have already invested quite a lot because they hosted AFCON not too long ago, can also ask for that right,” he noted.
Ghana last staged a major international sporting event in 2024 when it hosted the delayed 2023 African Games. Côte d’Ivoire’s successful hosting of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations has also boosted the region’s confidence in handling large-scale competitions.
A potential West African World Cup bid would be historic, marking the first time the tournament is hosted by multiple African nations.
