BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The long-term ambitions in international football hosting have resurfaced, with Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, hinting at a possible joint bid with Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire to host a future FIFA World Cup. His comments come at a time when FIFA has embraced multi-nation hosting formats, creating new opportunities for regional collaborations.
Speaking on the sidelines of recent sports development engagements, Kofi Adams said Ghana should not rule itself out of the growing trend of shared hosting rights.
He noted that FIFA’s decisions to award the 2026 World Cup to the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and the 2030 edition to Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, demonstrate a shift toward broader international partnerships.
According to the Minister, West Africa is uniquely positioned to make a compelling case. Côte d’Ivoire’s successful delivery of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, coupled with Nigeria’s long-standing football infrastructure and the experience in hosting major events, places the sub-region in a stronger position than ever before.
The most recent hosting experience was the delayed 2023 African Games in 2024, which saw significant infrastructural upgrades and organizational reform.
Kofi Adams believes that with strategic planning and shared investment, the three countries could present a united bid that showcases West Africa’s passion for football and growing capacity to host tournaments of global scale.
“FIFA has opened the door to collaborations, and maybe the next major hosting opportunity could involve Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire,” he said.
“These countries have invested heavily in sports infrastructure in recent years. It is time to explore that possibility and push for the right.”
The Minister further stressed that hosting a World Cup would not only elevate the region’s global sporting profile but also stimulate economic growth, tourism, and development across the three countries.
He urged government and continental sports authorities to begin early consultations if such a dream is to be realized.
Ghana previously hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2008 and has participated in three FIFA World Cups, earning global respect for its performance in 2006 and 2010.
While the prospect of hosting football’s biggest event remains distant, the discussion marks a renewed sense of ambition within the country’s sports administration.
