The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is set to receive a total of $12.5 million from FIFA after the world football governing body approved increased financial support for teams participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The new package includes $2.5 million in preparation funds for each qualified nation, representing a $1 million increase from the $1.5 million given to teams ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Ghana will also receive an additional $10 million for qualifying for the tournament, up from the $9 million qualification payment made at the previous edition.
The announcement follows a decision by the FIFA Council during a meeting in Vancouver ahead of the 76th FIFA Congress. FIFA confirmed that the total amount to be distributed to all 48 participating member associations will rise to $871 million, marking a 15 per cent increase.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams, expanded from the previous 32-team format. It will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Under the revised structure, FIFA said participating teams will benefit not only from increased preparation and qualification funds, but also from added support such as subsidies for delegation costs and enhanced ticket allocations worth more than $16 million in total.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the organisation’s strong financial position has made it possible to increase support for member associations worldwide.
“FIFA is proud to be in its most solid financial position ever, enabling us to help all our Member Associations in an unprecedented way,” he said.
“This is one more example of how FIFA’s resources are reinvested back into the game.”
The decision comes as FIFA prepares for what is expected to be the biggest and most commercially successful World Cup in history. With more teams, more matches, and multiple host countries, the tournament is projected to generate significant revenue through sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcast rights.
However, the scale of the competition has also raised concerns among some national associations, particularly in Europe, over travel costs, tax obligations, and other operational expenses linked to competing across North America.
UEFA is reported to have shared concerns from some of its member associations, with fears that teams may struggle to cover expenses unless they progress to the later stages of the tournament.
For Ghana, the increased FIFA funding would provide a major financial boost toward preparations for the Black Stars, including logistics, camping, player welfare, and technical planning if the team secures qualification for the global tournament.
By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang
