Many Ghanaians in New York have missed out on government-sponsored FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets after the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the UN said only a limited number were available, despite President John Dramani Mahama’s earlier pledge.
The Mission announced Thursday, June 25, that it had received a directive from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation in Accra to submit a limited list of names from the Ghanaian community for consideration.
According to the statement, the Mission consulted recognized Ghanaian associations and community groups before forwarding a consolidated list to the Ministry. Those whose names were submitted have since received their tickets electronically.
However, the Mission admitted demand far exceeded supply.
“The Mission regrets that, owing to the limited number of tickets available, it was unable to accommodate all individuals who expressed interest,” it said.
President Mahama announced the ticket initiative during a town hall meeting in London, saying government would not finance travel for supporters from Ghana due to high costs estimated at $11,000 per fan. Instead, it would purchase match tickets for Ghanaians already living in US and Canadian host cities.
Sports Minister Kofi Adams said earlier that $1.126 million of Ghana’s 2026 World Cup budget had been allocated for diaspora tickets. He assured the public the allocation process would be transparent but acknowledged not all applicants would receive tickets.
Following the Mission’s confirmation, some disappointed Ghanaians in the diaspora criticized the government on social media and demanded accountability from the Sports Minister.
