2926 Democracy Cup winners to play exhibition match in the United States in May 2027
The winners of the 2026 Democracy Cup between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak could be given the opportunity to travel to the United States for an exhibition match next year under a proposed partnership involving Ghana's Parliament and the BABA Festival.
The two Ghanaian football rivals are set to face off in this year's Democracy Cup on Friday, 28 August 2026, with the victorious side potentially securing a place in a special fixture in Antelope Valley, California, in May 2027.
According to a proposal submitted to Parliament, the winning club would take on a partner team as part of the BABA Festival, an event aimed at strengthening ties between Africa and the African-American diaspora.
The proposal was outlined in a letter dated 18 August 2026 from Ambassador Christian P. Richards Jr., founder and president of Choosing Independence, to the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror.
"We therefore propose that Parliament extend this tradition to Los Angeles," the letter stated.
It further suggested that "the winning club of the 2026 Democracy Cup be invited to travel to Antelope Valley, California, to play a match against a partner team in May 2027."
Organisers say the proposed fixture would serve as a flagship sporting event during the BABA Festival and help promote the values associated with the Democracy Cup.
The festival's organisers have also requested that Parliament become a strategic partner, allowing the Democracy Cup and Parliament's civic engagement initiatives through sport to feature prominently in the event's programming and communications.
They believe the match would showcase the Democracy Cup's message of unity and democratic maturity to African-American audiences while creating a platform for cultural and sporting exchange.
According to the proposal, the game could provide "a shared moment of pride, competition, and connection" for members of the Ghanaian diaspora and African Americans.
The letter described the proposed US trip as a natural extension of the Democracy Cup's previous international engagements and indicated that organisers were ready to work with Parliament on the logistics, timing and format of the event.
The proposal has been presented to Parliament for consideration.
The outcome of Friday's Democracy Cup clash between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak will determine which club could represent the competition in Antelope Valley, California, if the proposal is approved.