President John Dramani Mahama has stated that 2026 FIFA World Cup participation should extend beyond football achievement and function as a platform to strengthen Ghana’s international branding and economic prospects.
Delivering his 2026 State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the President emphasised that Ghana’s fifth appearance at the global football showpiece presents a valuable opportunity to promote the country’s culture, tourism potential, and investment climate on the world stage.
Mahama stressed that success at the tournament should not only be measured by on-field performance but also by how well the nation leverages the event for broader developmental gains.
He also addressed travel concerns ahead of the competition in the United States, urging football supporters planning to attend the tournament to strictly follow immigration requirements.
“Supporters who wish to travel must apply for visas through the American Embassy,” he said. “We must ensure that those who travel for the tournament return after their visit.”
The President noted that considerable effort had been invested in restoring Ghana’s five-year non-immigrant visa access and removing the country from previous restriction lists. He cautioned that uncontrolled travel during the tournament could jeopardise the recent progress made in improving visa relations.
“It has taken significant work to restore our visa status,” Mahama added. “I sincerely hope this sporting event will not trigger mass migration that could return us to the visa ban list.”
The Ghana Football Association has already confirmed that the national team will establish its World Cup base at Bryant University throughout the tournament.
The Black Stars have been drawn in Group L alongside England national football team, Croatia national football team, and Panama national football team.
Ghana will begin their campaign against Panama on June 17, before facing England on June 23 and concluding the group stage against Croatia on June 27. Following earlier exits at the group stage in both the 2014 and 2022 editions of the tournament, the four-time African champions are hoping to mount a more impressive run this time around.