Ghana Eyes Joint World Cup Bid With Nigeria, Ivory Coast

Ghana has opened the door to the possibility of co-hosting a future FIFA World Cup alongside Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, saying the moment is right for West Africa to take a bold step onto football’s biggest stage.

Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, said the country is willing to explore a joint bid, noting that FIFA’s current direction makes such partnerships more realistic than ever.

“They (FIFA) are beginning to adapt several 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,” Adams said in comments published by Ghana Soccernet.

His remarks follow the growing trend of shared hosting rights worldwide. The 2026 World Cup will be played across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 2030 edition will be spread across Morocco, Spain and Portugal, with additional matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as part of the tournament’s 100th-year celebration. Saudi Arabia has sealed the hosting rights for 2034, leaving the 2038 tournament as the next available opportunity.

Ghana recently staged the delayed 2023 African Games, showcasing its ability to organise a large multi-sport event. Nigeria, for its part, has hosted the Africa Cup of Nations and various FIFA youth tournaments.

However, its failed bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games highlighted gaps in stadium readiness, transport systems, funding and organisational capacity, all of which would need significant improvement for a World Cup-level bid.

Despite those hurdles, Adams believes the three West African nations have enough shared experience and infrastructure to mount a credible proposal.

“I believe that we, together with Nigeria and the 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 said.