Ghana’s Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has announced that the $9 million reward for the Black Stars’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification will fuel the nation’s newly established Sports Fund.

Thanks to the expanded 48-team format, every nation is guaranteed at least $10.5 million, with $9 million for the group stage and $1.5 million set aside for preparations.

Adams revealed to Citi Sports that the fund was born out of high hopes for World Cup earnings.

“Our main aim in the bill was to take advantage of the preparations for the FIFA World Cup”.

The minister outlined how international competitions would serve as a key source of funding.

“One source is earnings from tournaments. For instance, FIFA will award us $9 million, while the $1.5 million is allocated for preparation. Unless there are unavoidable costs, the $9 million will go directly into the fund,” Adams noted.

He believes that a well-organized system will empower Ghana to make meaningful investments in sports.

“Once in the fund, there will be structured utilisation. For the first time, we can have infrastructure and facilities that are a direct result of our World Cup participation,” he added.

Adams also emphasized the government’s commitment to building a lasting legacy from Ghana’s 2026 World Cup journey.

“We intend to showcase projects that demonstrate what we have achieved through our participation in the 2026 World Cup,” he said.

Adams voiced strong confidence in the Black Stars, highlighting the lucrative rewards that come with each victory.

“If we progress to the next round of 32 teams, there’s an additional $3 million, and advancing further to the round of 16 adds another $4 million. The further we go, the greater the returns. We just have to perform, and I believe we can be among the top four,” he concluded.