Yaw Ampofo Ankra (L) and Mathew Asada addressing participants
As the days to the 2026 World Cup get closer, the Ghana and the United States are exploring various fora of mutual benefits as the two nations take steps to foster and strengthen existing relationships.
As part of measures, the National Sports Authority and the US Embassy in Ghana have engaged journalists and stakeholders in sports as the days to the World Cup which will be held in the US, Canada and Mexico draw nearer.
Held under the theme ‘Countdown to World Cup 26: “Bridging the Cap: Fostering Connections between the United States and Ghana through Soccer Culture,” the programme highlighted opportunities available through sports.
It also highlighted rivalries between the Ghana Black Stars and the US Men Soccer team which have faced each other in three successive Worl Cup tournaments—2006, 2010 and 2014, with Ghana winning the first two and the US winning the third meeting.
Director General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, in a presentation highlighted various collaborations between the two nations and how various Ghanaians have benefited and continue to benefit from these programmes.
He was hopeful that Ghana will qualify for next year’s World Cup thereby providing an opportunity for Ghanaians to experience the US as well explore opportunities for themselves.
Mr. Ampofo also disclosed that the NSA is putting in place measures to unearth talents across the country – not just in football but in various sporting fields.
He also indicated that despite financial challenges, the NSA is doing its best and pointed to government’s commitment to national development through sports.
Mathew Asada, Press Attachè at the US Embassy in Ghana said the US is ready to welcome people from all over the world “for this mega sporting event.”
He hoped that Ghana will qualify for the tournament, nothing that “once it does qualify, we can think about what we can do together.
He also pointed out that the Donald Trump administration is interested in ensuring that anyone that visits the United States abides by the US immigration laws, describing it as something that is “common sense.”
“Each country has the ability to control who enters and stays and leaves that country,” he said. “So, the United States right now, we want to ensure that we are facilitating that legitimate trade and travel and that people are abiding by the terms of their visa,” Mr. Asada added.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak