By Yomi Kuku, Toronto – Exclusive to JerseyNumber12
The Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario (GCAO) has ramped up efforts to galvanize local and diaspora support for the Black Stars ahead of Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field in Toronto. Following Ghana’s qualification, the GCAO launched a comprehensive support plan involving structured committees, weekly coordination meetings, and active collaboration with Ghanaian and Canadian authorities.
“Ticket access is our number one priority,” said Emmanuel C. Duodu, President of GCAO, in an exclusive interview with JerseyNumber12. “We are in talks with the Ghana High Commission, the Ghana Football Association, and the Ministry of Sports to secure a fair allocation of FIFA match tickets for our fans here.”
As demand builds for match tickets, Duodu highlighted that pricing accessibility is a key focus: “We don’t anticipate that those who are here will be paying thousands of dollars. So what we intend to focus on is, how many tickets are we looking at? Is it 500, 1,000, 3,000, 5,000? We don’t know. Ideally, we can say, hey, give me 10,000. We know if it is CAD $90 or $100 dollars, we should be able to do that.” This is the to ensure that passionate Ghanaian fans in Canada are well represented in the stands. Simultaneously, the organization is assisting Ghana-based supporters with visa logistics to mitigate the steep travel expenses, estimated to reach up to CAD $265 per person for group-stage matches.
Beyond Toronto, GCAO is expanding its coordination efforts to the U.S., where Ghana will face England on June 23 in Boston and Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia. Committees are liaising with the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C., local Ghanaian-American associations, and Canadian travel groups to facilitate cross-border attendance. “Ghana’s East Coast schedule is a blessing—it minimizes travel stress and allows more fans to show up in big numbers,” Duodu noted.
To ensure effective organization, GCAO has formed several core committees that now meet every Monday at 8 PM. The meetings, now including three representatives from the Ghana Consulate in Toronto, focus on fan mobilization, logistics, entertainment, and communications. These preparations are geared toward giving the Black Stars a home-away-from-home atmosphere when they take the field in June. “We want the Black Stars to feel like they’re playing at the Baba Yara or Accra Sports Stadium,” Duodu emphasized.
One committee is dedicated to developing a strong cheerleading and fan base presence by February, while another is coordinating the setup of a “Black Stars Village” across three possible Greater Toronto Area (GTA) locations. These hubs will assist fans with accommodation, transportation, and community events. The entertainment committee is curating cultural programming and matchday festivities, while the communications team handles media inquiries and digital engagement, including rising attention from Canadian outlets like CBC and CityTV.
GCAO’s roadmap includes early rollout of fan mobilization, entertainment planning, and digital outreach, with formal ticket allocation updates pending FIFA’s next announcement. “We are not just organizing events,” Duodu concluded. “We are uplifting the image of Ghana, Africa, and Black people on a global stage.”
With proactive leadership and community-wide enthusiasm, GCAO is positioning Toronto—and the broader diaspora—as a crucial pillar of support for the Black Stars’ World Cup campaign.
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