The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has obtained exclusive free-to-air terrestrial broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with support from the Government of Ghana. Additional licensed television stations have also been authorised to broadcast the tournament.
According to GBC, the rights were secured in partnership with FIFA through New World TV, allowing selected members of the Ghana TV Consortium to air matches across the country. Approved partners include Max TV, Sporty TV, TV3, Onua TV, UTV, Metro TV, Original TV, and Woezor TV, among others.
The corporation explained that the initiative is aimed at ensuring nationwide access to the tournament and enabling Ghanaians to follow the Black Stars’ progress.
It added that the arrangement was established at the request of the government to create a shared technical, marketing, and broadcasting framework for maximum coverage.
GBC further cautioned media houses against unauthorised transmission of World Cup content, stating that all broadcasts, streaming, public screenings, or commercial use without approval are strictly prohibited. Radio stations interested in airing match content are encouraged to obtain sublicensing from GBC.
The wait is finally over as the FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway tomorrow, June 11, ushering in a new era for the world’s most prestigious football tournament.
The tournament promises to be unlike any previous edition, with a record number of teams, matches and host cities participating in what is expected to be the largest sporting event ever staged.
The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, making it the first tournament in history to be organized by three countries. It is also the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, an expansion from the traditional 32-team format that has been in place since 1998.
The expanded competition is designed to make the World Cup more inclusive, allowing more nations from Africa, Asia, North America and other regions to participate on football’s biggest stage. FIFA believes the new format will not only increase global representation but also enhance competition by giving emerging football nations a chance to test themselves against the world’s elite.
The tournament’s opening match will be played at the iconic Mexico City Stadium, where hosts Mexico will face South Africa before a packed crowd.
The venue will make history as the first stadium ever to host three World Cup opening matches, having previously welcomed fans for the opening games of the 1970 and 1986 tournaments.
Football supporters are already flooding host cities as excitement reaches fever pitch ahead of kick-off. Hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues across North America are expected to experience a major economic boost as millions of visitors travel to support their teams.
This year’s tournament will feature a record 104 matches played across 16 cities in the three host nations. The expanded format will see the 48 participating countries divided into 12 groups, with the top teams progressing to a newly introduced Round of 32 before advancing through the traditional knockout stages.
