Mahama Urges Ghanaians Attending 2026 World Cup Abroad to Return Home After Tournament
John Dramani Mahama urges fans heading to the 2026 tournament in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to return home, citing hard-won restoration of five-year visas.
President John Dramani Mahama has issued a firm caution to Ghanaians planning to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, warning that overstaying visas could jeopardise the country’s renewed travel privileges with the United States.
Speaking during his 2026 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on February 27, the President acknowledged that past international tournaments had been followed by cases of visa overstays, creating diplomatic strain and travel restrictions.
With the 2026 tournament set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, President Mahama stressed that national pride must not translate into immigration violations.
“Supporters and other people interested in going to support the team would have to submit visa requests to the American Embassy,” he noted, underscoring that compliance with visa conditions is critical.
He disclosed that Ghana had undertaken significant diplomatic engagement to reverse previous travel restrictions and restore access to five-year non-immigrant visas to the United States — a privilege he described as hard-earned.
“It has taken a lot of work to restore Ghana’s five-year non-immigrant visas and take us off the ban list,” he said. “It is my hope that this event will not send thousands of Ghanaians to America and get us back on the ban list.”
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The President’s remarks signal growing concern within government that large-scale visa violations during the global sporting event could damage Ghana’s international standing and reverse diplomatic gains.
His message was clear: cheer the national team, but return home — because the stakes extend far beyond football.
