FIFA World Cup: Mahama rules out mass funding for supporters

President John Dramani Mahama has ruled out government-funded mass travel for Ghanaian supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing high costs.

Speaking during a town hall meeting in London on Sunday as part of his working visit to the United Kingdom, President Mahama said the government would not commit public funds to transporting large numbers of supporters to the tournament, which will be hosted across three countries.

He explained that the unique nature of the competition, which will be staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, makes it financially impractical for the state to sponsor supporters on a large scale.

“Because of the nature of this World Cup; it’s been held in three countries. And we are playing our first match in Canada, then moving to Boston, to Philadelphia,” he said.

According to the President, the cost of transporting, feeding and accommodating supporters throughout the tournament would place a significant burden on the public purse.

“And the cost of transporting, feeding, and accommodating each supporter is beyond our means. We say we are being fiscally disciplined. We cannot spend our money in that manner,” he stated.

President Mahama disclosed that estimates indicate the total cost for one supporter to attend and follow the Black Stars could reach nearly $11,000 when travel, accommodation, feeding and match tickets are taken into account.

“The cost approximate for each person to be fed, accommodated, transported, to watch the games, tickets, and all that, is estimated at almost $11,000. And so how many can we take?” he asked.

He said government support would instead be directed toward recognised supporters’ groups that have a longstanding tradition of following the national team to international tournaments.

“So we are concentrating more on the supporters’ unions. They have a tradition of following the teams to different places,” he noted.

The President, however, announced an alternative arrangement aimed at encouraging attendance by Ghanaians living abroad.

“But what we are also doing is that we are purchasing tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora who want to attend the games,” he said.

President Mahama is in the United Kingdom for a series of high-level engagements. During the visit, he is expected to have a royal audience with King Charles III and later hold talks with Keir Starmer on matters of mutual interest between Ghana and the United Kingdom.