By Helga Gokah
Various World Cup-bound nations with embassies in Ghana have engaged the National Sports Authority (NSA) in one of the biggest stakeholder meetings ahead of their participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for June.
Most of the discussions focused on pre-World Cup events to be hosted by Ghana and the three host nations.
On Tuesday, April 28, the Authority hosted more than fifteen diplomatic missions in Ghana whose countries have qualified for the World Cup. The engagement was also attended by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and Tribe Festival.
As part of the World Cup countdown activities, these events are expected to be held across selected NSA venues in all 16 regions of Ghana.
The aim is to give these missions and embassies the opportunity to engage and educate the Ghanaian public, the media, federations, and sports fans interested in travelling to the World Cup.
Speaking to the press, the Deputy High Commissioner to Mexico, Fernando Valenzuela, explained the idea behind the upcoming cultural fair to be hosted by the NSA.
“We will have different countries showcasing their flags, along with music and entertainment. There will be more than 20 national booths, featuring different types of food from various countries. Basically, the idea is to bring everything together for football fans to explore,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of participating in the historic cultural fair ahead of the tournament.
He stated that, aside from the three host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — all participating countries are looking forward to promoting their brands to the general public.
Embassies that took part in the meeting included those of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, the United Kingdom, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.
All representatives from the various embassies were presented with customised fans’ diaries and Black Stars jerseys.
