Black Stars’ 2026 World Cup dream comes with $13.7m price tag
Ghana has set aside nearly 14 million dollars for the Black Stars’ campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, detailing what he described as a comprehensive financial plan stretching from pre-tournament camping to a possible appearance in the final.
At a press briefing on Thursday, February 26, Mr Adams announced a total budget of 13,776,965 US dollars, equivalent to GH¢146,268,659.80, to fund Ghana’s participation in the global tournament, which will be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico in June 2026 under the banner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana have been drawn in a demanding Group L alongside Panama, England and Croatia, a line-up that is already shaping expectations around the scale of preparation required.
Breaking down the figures, the Minister said 1,230,465 US dollars, representing GH¢13,063,723.90, has been allocated for pre-tournament activities. This sum will finance a FIFA-mandated camping period as well as four international friendly matches intended to fine-tune the squad before competitive action begins.
Mr Adams stressed that the preparatory friendlies are not optional extras but a critical component of the build-up, arguing that the matches will help the technical team assess combinations, sharpen match fitness and build cohesion ahead of the group stage.
The largest single allocation is reserved for the group phase itself, with 6,284,000 US dollars, or GH¢66,716,599, budgeted to cover appearance fees, match bonuses, per diems for players and technical staff, and allowances for additional officials. The figure underlines the financial weight attached to the opening three matches, which will determine whether Ghana advances to the knockout rounds.
Should the Black Stars progress, the financial structure shifts towards performance-driven rewards. The Round of 32 has been budgeted at 690,000 US dollars, equivalent to GH¢7,325,661, with no appearance fees but increased performance bonuses. The allocation then rises to 920,000 dollars for the Round of 16, 1,137,500 dollars for the quarterfinals, 1,365,000 dollars for the semifinals and 1,840,000 dollars if Ghana reach the final.
An additional 310,000 US dollars has been earmarked as honorariums for management, officials and support staff throughout the tournament, reflecting what the Minister indicated is a holistic approach to rewarding the entire delegation.
Crucially, Mr Adams stated that the Ghana Football Association will shoulder the full financial responsibility for the campaign, signalling that the state will not directly fund the tournament expenses. The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of sports financing in Ghana and sets a clear fiscal framework ahead of what is expected to be one of the most commercially significant World Cups in history.
