Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that the government will recover the GHS58 million advanced to the Black Stars for their participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup once FIFA releases Ghana’s appearance fee.

Presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, the Finance Minister disclosed that the government spent GHS58 million to support the national team’s preparations for the tournament, which was staged across North America.

According to Dr Forson, the funding was necessary to ensure the Black Stars were adequately prepared before receiving FIFA’s financial support.

“To support Ghana’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an amount of GHS 58 million has been paid,” he told Citi FM.

He explained that Parliament had approved GHS150 million to cover Ghana’s entire World Cup campaign, based on the assumption that the Black Stars could progress to the final of the competition.

“Before FIFA gave them the money, they needed to spend. They needed to prepare and go for the World Cup before FIFA’s money,” he continued.

“So government needed to help out. I went to parliament and allocated GHS 150 million for the whole campaign, assuming that the national team was going all the way to the finals. 

“We gave them GHS 58 million…I’ll go and collect my money,” he added. 

The Black Stars’ World Cup journey ended in the Round of 32 following a 1-0 defeat to Colombia.

Despite the knockout-stage exit, Ghana finished 24th out of the 48 participating nations, marking a respectable return to football’s biggest tournament after missing the previous edition.

Attention now turns to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where the Black Stars have been drawn in Group C alongside Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Somalia as they seek to secure a place at the continental showpiece.