‘Don’t Ruin It’: Mahama begs World Cup fans not to overstay visas in US

President John Dramani Mahama has issued a passionate plea to Ghanaian football fans planning to travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging them to return home after the tournament to protect the country’s hard-won travel privileges with the United States.

Delivering his State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Friday, February 27, the President raised concerns about the potential diplomatic fallout if fans abuse their visas during the global event, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The President revealed that Ghana has only recently succeeded in reversing restrictions that previously limited travel to the US. This includes the restoration of access to five-year multiple-entry visas for Ghanaians, a status that was jeopardized in the past due to high rates of visa overstays.

“We are being told that we must ensure that supporters who go [to the tournament] return on the visas,” President Mahama cautioned lawmakers. “It has taken a lot of work to restore Ghana’s five-year non-immigrant visas and take us off the ban list. It is my hope that this event will not send thousands of Ghanaians to America and get us back on the ban list.”

He reminded the public that supporters seeking to cheer on the Black Stars will need to submit visa requests to the US Embassy, and the conduct of travelers will be closely scrutinized.

The Black Stars are scheduled to base their training camp at Bryant University during the tournament. Drawn into a competitive group alongside Panama, England, and Croatia, the team is expected to draw significant support from the Ghanaian diaspora and traveling fans. However, the President stressed that the excitement of the World Cup must not overshadow the responsibility of representing the nation with integrity abroad.

His remarks underscore the delicate nature of international travel agreements and serve as a warning that a wave of overstayed visas could undo years of diplomatic efforts, straining relations with host countries and closing doors for future travelers.