Ghana to stage International Beach Soccer Festival

Ghana will host a first-of-its-kind international beach soccer event this May, welcoming teams from Europe and Africa for a festival promoting global unity through sport.

The “2026 One Humanity International Beach Soccer Festival” will be held in Accra from May 8 to 10, featuring national sides from host nation Ghana, Nigeria, England, and Germany. The tournament was formally launched in the capital last Friday.

Organisers have framed the event as an extension of the United Nations’ “One Humanity” campaign. In her keynote address at the launch, UN official Madam Fatou Diallo Ndiaye stated the festival is designed to use sport as a tool for fostering dialogue and shared values across cultures.

The event is being organised in partnership with Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) and aims to blend high-level competition with community and cultural activities. Alongside the matches, plans include a fan zone, community beach clean-ups, and a major outdoor concert.

Banasco Nuhu Seidu, the Lead Organiser, stressed the event’s broader ambitions. “We are building a legacy here,” he said. “This platform is about creating opportunities and using the power of sport to inspire and bring people together.”

Ghanaian sports officials hailed the announcement. National Sports Authority Director General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, noted the event’s potential to boost sport and business along the coastline. “This showcases our capacity to host world-class events while activating our beaches for a wider purpose,” he said.

The Ghana Football Association’s Beach Soccer Committee Chairman, Gyamfi Kusi Awere, added that the competition offers crucial international experience for local players and will raise the profile of the sport nationwide.

Detailed information on match venues and the full festival schedule is anticipated in the weeks ahead.