Ghana to channel Black Stars’ $9m World Cup earnings into new Sports Fund, says Minister Kofi Adams

The $9 million prize Ghana’s Black Stars will receive for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be deposited into the country’s newly established Sports Fund, Minister of Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams has confirmed.

Under FIFA’s expanded 48-team World Cup format, each qualifying nation will earn a minimum of $10.5 million—$9 million for group-stage participation and an additional $1.5 million earmarked for preparation expenses.

Speaking to Citi Sports, Adams explained that anticipated World Cup revenues were a key motivation behind the creation of the fund.

“If you observe the justification for the agency of the bill we took to Parliament, one of the things we indicated was the period, and that we wanted to take advantage of the period we found ourselves in. What is the period? Preparation for the FIFA World Cup. We want to insist that the bill, as it is now, when signed by the President, becomes an act," he added.

He detailed how earnings from international tournaments would be allocated.

“One of the sources is proceeds from competitions and tournaments. For example, what FIFA is going to give us as a country is $9 million. The $1.5 million is for preparation, so that will go into preparation.

"But the $9 million would go into the fund, for example. Unless we incur some other cost that we just have to deduct from it. If we don’t, we are going to put everything into the fund.”

The minister stressed that directing the funds through a structured system will allow Ghana to make sustainable investments in sports development.

"Once it goes into the fund, there will be structured utilisation. So we can, for the first time, have infrastructure or edifices that we can point to, that out of the World Cup, this is what we are able to do."

Adams also underscored the government’s commitment to leaving a visible legacy from Ghana’s 2026 World Cup campaign in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

"So we intend to have projects that we can show that in our participation in the US of A, Canada and Mexico World Cup 2026, this is what we are able to do."

On the financial incentives tied to advancing in the tournament, Adams expressed optimism about the Black Stars’ prospects.

"And I believe that we are in good shape to go very far. You know, if you qualify for the next round of the 32 teams, you get an additional $3 million. And if you move further to the 32, you get an additional $4 million.

"So the further you go, the better it will be for you. So we just have to perform, and I believe that we can be among the top four," he added.