The United States Embassy in Ghana has announced plans to deepen sports diplomacy ties with Ghana through an expanded Sports Envoy Programme aimed at empowering coaches and young female athletes across the country.
Mr Rolf Olson, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, said the initiative would bring two U.S. professional athletes and coaches, including Ghanaian American player Kofi Sarkodie, to engage with high school coaches of female student-athletes.
Mr Olson announced the programme during a post-2026 FIFA World Cup media debrief session with sports journalists and content creators who covered the tournament.
He said the 2026 World Cup had demonstrated the power of sports to unite people across cultures while creating opportunities for economic growth and international exchange.
“To me, the best part about sports diplomacy is the stories of teamwork, resilience and national pride. Additionally, the World Cup served as a meaningful platform for creating economic opportunity and cross-cultural exchange,” he said.
Mr Olson said the Sports Envoys would lead a two-day train-the-trainer programme for high school coaches of female student-athletes in the Northern, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions over a two-week period in September.
He also highlighted efforts by the U.S. Embassy to facilitate legitimate travel during the World Cup period, revealing that the mission processed more than 14,000 additional Nonimmigrant Visa applications in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
According to him, visa applications processed rose by nearly 60 per cent, from approximately 24,000 to 38,000, resulting in thousands more visa issuances.
“To meet this demand, over 30 consular personnel from U.S. embassies and consulates around the world were temporarily assigned to Accra, helping us reduce interview wait times significantly and facilitate travel connected to the World Cup,” he said.
Mr. Olson said the United States was looking to build on the success of the FIFA World Cup as it prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
Mr Matthew K. Asada, Acting Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy Ghana, described the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a historic tournament, citing the expanded number of participating teams, the unprecedented global audience that followed the event, among many other factors.
He commended Ghanaian journalists and content creators for their extensive and positive coverage of the tournament and encouraged them to continue using sports as a platform to connect people and cultures.
“We are reminded of how sports can bring all of us together and help build new relationships. Recently, we witnessed the partnership between Ghana’s Ashesi University and Bryant University, where the Black Stars camped, sign an agreement to strengthen their educational collaboration,” he said.
The debrief session featured reflections from veteran sports journalists, including Michael Oti Adjei and Gary Al-Smith, who shared insights and experiences from covering the 2026 FIFA World Cup.