Mahama Rules Out State Sponsorship for Fans at 2026 World Cup
March 21,2026
President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the government will not finance the travel of supporters to the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to the high costs involved.
Speaking at a Ghana World Cup fundraising event on March 20, 2026, he explained that the decision is in line with the recommendations of the Dzamefe Report, which cautions against the use of public funds to sponsor fans.“In consonance with the Dzamefe Report, the government has no plans to allocate public funds to fly supporters to the World Cup,” President Mahama stated.
He noted that even supporting a limited number of fans would place a heavy financial burden on the state.“The logistical support of flying and accommodating even just 200 supporters is staggering,” he said. "It could cost close to $2 million'' .While acknowledging the importance of fan presence at global tournaments, the President stressed the need for fiscal discipline. "We all want to see our fans in the stands, but we must be responsible in how we use public resources,” he added.“Those resources must go into priority areas like job creation.”The decision means that Ghanaian supporters planning to attend matches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will have to rely on private sponsorship, personal funding, or independent fundraising efforts.
