Alexandria officials welcome GFA President Kurt Okraku as Black Stars settle in for World Cup campaign

The Mayor of Alexandria, along with the City Manager, has paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, at the Black Stars’ team hotel in Alexandria, Virginia.

The meeting, held at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, which serves as the team’s temporary base, was also attended by the hotel’s General Manager, Greg Langley. The visit is part of a broader effort to strengthen ties between the City of Alexandria and the Ghanaian delegation, which is in the U.S. for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Manager James F. Parajon used the engagement to officially welcome the Black Stars to Alexandria and to exchange views on sports, community engagement, and the role of football in fostering international partnerships and cultural exchange. Mr. Simeon-Okraku expressed his appreciation to the city authorities and the management of the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center for their hospitality and support to the national team during its stay in the United States.

The courtesy call highlighted the growing ties between Ghanaian football and international stakeholders, as well as the positive impact of sports diplomacy in building relationships across communities and nations. The Black Stars are currently in the United States as part of their international football engagements and preparations for upcoming World Cup.

This is the fifth time Ghana has qualified for a World Cup; their best performance was a quarter-final appearance in South Africa (2010). They will soon leave Virginia to relocate to Bryant University in Rhode Island, their official FIFA World Cup training base, where they will complete the final stages of their World Cup preparations.

Ghana have been drawn in a competitive Group L for the tournament alongside England, Croatia, and Panama. They will begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field, before facing England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium, and concluding their group-stage fixtures against Croatia on June 27.

The visit is a testament to the power of sports diplomacy and the strong bonds between the City of Alexandria and the Ghanaian delegation.