Ghana eyes joint World Cup host with Nigeria, Ivory Coast

Ghana has indicated its ambition to co-host a future FIFA World Cup with Nigeria and Ivory Coast, citing the growing trend of multi-nation tournaments as an opportunity for West Africa, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The country’s Minister of Sports and Recreation Kofi Adams said Ghana has the capacity to pursue a joint bid.

Adams explained that FIFA’s recent direction opens a window of opportunity for the three countries to come together, highlighting their strong foundations.

“They (FIFA) are beginning to adapt a number of nations doing it so maybe who knows, the next one would be Ghana, Nigeria, and then Ivory Coast coming together to also host the World Cup, and it will be good,” he said as quoted by Ghana Soccernet.

The next World Cup in 2026 will be jointly staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time the men’s tournament will be hosted by three nations.

After that, Morocco, Spain and Portugal are set to co-host the 2030 edition of the World Cup, with additional matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to commemorate the centenary of the first tournament.

Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the sole host of the 2034 World Cup after being the only country to submit a bid under FIFA’s rotation rules, which leaves the 2038 edition as the option that is next in line.

Ghana’s most recent major hosting assignment was the delayed 2023 African Games, staged in 2024.

Nigeria has experience hosting major continental and youth tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA youth tournaments. However, its recent failed bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games revealed gaps in stadium readiness, transport infrastructure, funding, and organisational capacity, which demonstrates the challenges the country faces in meeting top-tier global standards.

Adams emphasised that the three countries already possess significant infrastructure and experience and could come together to submit a compelling bid in the future.

“I believe that we, together with Nigeria and Ivory Coast, who have already invested quite a lot because they hosted AFCON not too long ago. We can also ask for that right,” he reiterated.