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Sports Minister Kofi Adams Discloses $1.26 Million Expenditure on 2026 World Cup Tickets for fans
•2 min read•3 sources
Ghana's Minister for Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, has revealed that the government allocated approximately $1.26 million to procure tickets for the national team’s group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Appearing before Parliament’s Youth and Sports Committee on September 17, Adams provided a detailed account of the Ministry’s spending aimed at ensuring a strong presence of Ghanaian supporters during the global showpiece. The expenditure is part of a broader strategy to bolster the Black Stars' campaign as they face a challenging group stage against international heavyweights including England and Croatia.
According to the Minister, the Ministry of Sports and Recreation secured a total of 2,922 tickets across Ghana's three opening fixtures. Specifically, the allocation includes 948 tickets for the match against Panama, 1,000 tickets for the clash with England, and 974 tickets for the encounter against Croatia. Adams emphasized that the total cost included a mandatory 10% administrative fee charged by FIFA. He further clarified that these tickets were purchased directly for distribution to stakeholders and were strictly not intended for resale to the public, ensuring that the benefit went directly to the intended fan groups.
The distribution of the tickets has been strategically managed to navigate logistical hurdles, particularly regarding visa acquisitions. Minister Adams explained that because of significant challenges faced by many fans in obtaining visas to the host nations, the Ministry adjusted its focus to ensure the tickets did not go to waste. A substantial portion of the tickets was allocated to the Ghana Supporters Union and official delegations, as well as Ghanaian citizens already residing in the diaspora. This approach was designed to guarantee that the seats are filled by passionate fans who have already cleared travel hurdles, thereby maximizing the atmosphere in the stadiums for the national team.
This disclosure comes as the Ministry intensifies its preparations for the tournament, with the government facing ongoing scrutiny over sports-related expenditures. The briefing to the Parliamentary committee serves as a key measure of transparency, addressing how public funds are utilized to promote national interests on the world stage. As the 2026 World Cup progresses, the Ministry continues to monitor the impact of these investments, with the goal of ensuring that the Black Stars receive the necessary support to progress beyond the group stages and replicate the nation's past historic successes in the tournament.
