Ghana’s National Sports Authority denies authorizing fundraising for 2026 World Cup visas
Ghana’s National Sports Authority (NSA) has denied authorizing fundraising or assistance with visa applications for people wishing to travel to the United States and Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. MyJoyOnline reports that this comes amid allegations that individuals linked to the NSA allegedly collected about $623,000 from citizens, promising to help them obtain visas.
The sports authority’s position
In a statement dated September 15, the NSA said it had not established, authorized, or managed an office at the stadium to receive money or facilitate visa applications. The authority also said it was not involved in, did not approve of, and did not authorize the visa-related activity mentioned in the allegations.
The NSA separately explained its cooperation with TRIBE FEST, which it described as a FIFA-licensed partner. According to the authority, the organization helps hold fan events, World Cup match screenings, and mobilization activities in cooperation with the NSA, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and other partners. At the same time, the NSA said this cooperation did not authorize TRIBE FEST, authority employees, or any other individuals to collect money for visa processing on behalf of the NSA.
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Reports of an appeal to police
The authority said it was aware of reports about a petition submitted to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service. However, the NSA said it had not received official notification containing the full details of the petition and would not speculate about its contents or name the individuals allegedly mentioned in it.
According to reports, the petition, dated September 8, 2026, was filed in connection with alleged World Cup visa operations involving the NSA and TRIBE FEST. The authority said it was ready to cooperate with police if an official investigation is opened. The NSA also stressed that if wrongdoing is confirmed by credible evidence, the responsible person should be held accountable under the law, while unsubstantiated allegations should not be treated as established facts until the review is completed.
