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Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has announced that the first batch of 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets for Ghanaian supporters is expected to reach beneficiaries by Sunday, June 14. This announcement comes as Ghanaian diplomatic missions in the United States and Canada face a surge of inquiries from the diaspora following promises made by President John Dramani Mahama. While the government has secured a total of 3,000 tickets to facilitate fan attendance across North America, logistical hurdles and FIFA’s stringent digital ticketing protocols have created a temporary backlog in the distribution process.
Minister Adams clarified that the distribution system is strictly regulated by FIFA, requiring all match passes to be managed through a specialized digital app linked to verified accounts. This modern approach complicates transfers compared to previous tournaments but ensures a higher level of security and transparency. Addressing concerns of favoritism, the Minister categorically dismissed allegations of political bias, asserting that the tickets are intended for genuine supporters and have not been allocated to any political groups. Of the 3,000 tickets purchased by the state, approximately 1,000 are specifically designated for the opening match, with distribution efforts prioritizing fans in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Despite these assurances, the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the UN and the Embassy in Washington, D.C., have confirmed they are still awaiting their official match pass quotas. Senior diplomats reported being inundated with requests from nationals eager for details after President Mahama’s recent pledge to support overseas citizens’ access to tickets. This disconnect between executive promises and administrative reality has forced diplomatic staff to coordinate closely with government ministries in Accra to finalize the logistics. Meanwhile, the Ghana High Commission in Canada has proactively begun collecting data from diaspora fans to streamline assistance for the upcoming matches.
As the Black Stars prepare for their tournament opener against Panama in Toronto on June 17, 2026, team morale is reported to be exceptionally high. The government’s shift toward providing ticket allocations instead of traditional chartered flights marks a strategic change in how it supports international campaigns, focusing on localized support for Ghanaians already living in the host regions. Officials continue to urge patience among the diaspora community, emphasizing that once the digital transfers are initiated via the FIFA app, the procurement process will be finalized, allowing fans to focus on supporting the national team on the global stage.
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