Ghana Engages US, Canada on Visa Arrangements for 2026 World Cup Fans

Ghana has opened high-level discussions with the governments of the United States and Canada to streamline visa processes for football fans ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following the Black Stars’ qualification for the tournament.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, revealed that he held separate meetings on Tuesday with officials from the US Embassy and the Canadian High Commission to explore ways of facilitating travel arrangements for Ghanaian supporters heading to North America for the competition.

The Ghanaian delegation included Technical Advisor to the Minister for Youth and Sports, Ms. Betty Krosbi Mensah; Ghana Football Association (GFA) President and CAF Vice President, Mr. Kurt Okraku; and senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Sports.

The American side was led by Acting US Ambassador Mr. Rolf Olson, while Acting Canadian High Commissioner Mr. Dennis Roussel headed the Canadian delegation.

According to Mr. Ablakwa, the talks aimed to build a shared understanding of expectations, enhance coordination, and establish clear working frameworks to make the visa process smoother for fans, officials, and national team members.

The discussions also explored the possibility of creating special visa arrangements separate from the regular application process to accommodate football fans and delegations.

A key outcome of the engagements, the minister disclosed, was confirmation that the United States has lifted previous visa restrictions that limited Ghanaian applicants to single-entry visas — paving the way for multiple-entry permits.

“This positive change means Ghanaian supporters can now move freely between the United States, Canada, and Mexico during the World Cup,” Mr. Ablakwa said.

He expressed appreciation to GFA President Kurt Okraku for presenting Black Stars replica jerseys to the embassy officials and noted that a meeting with representatives from the Mexican Embassy is scheduled for Friday.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — marking the first time the tournament will be staged across three countries.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs shared the news on his official Twitter (X) page