Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Simeon-Okraku has sat down with the leadership of Destination DC to explore exciting ways to team up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, exploring boosting tourism and sparking cultural exchanges to unlocking commercial opportunities and activating the diaspora.

The Secretary of the District of Columbia, Kimberly Bassett, joined the discussions, adding extra momentum to conversations centered on collaboration, shared interests, and making the World Cup moment count for all sides.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is to be staged in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

At the final draw on December 5, 2025, Ghana was confirmed in Group L with Panama, England, and Croatia. On June 17, the Black Stars face Panama.

Mr Simeon-Okraku’s one-day visit to Destination DC formed part of Ghana’s fast-tracked preparations for the games, as the country actively pursues global partnerships to boost its presence, sharpen its visibility, and ensure it is fully match-ready on and off the pitch.

President John Dramani Mahama has tasked all representatives of the nation to be proactive ambassadors for Ghana — seeking out opportunities and championing initiatives that drive economic gains — as part of his reset agenda aimed at re-energising and transforming the country’s economic fortunes.

Destination DC is the official destination marketing organisation for Washington DC, playing a major role in driving economic development through travel and tourism. A private, non-profit corporation, Destination DC has a membership of more than 1,000 businesses and organizations that underpin the DC travel and tourism sector.

The GFA sees the engagement as a strategic step towards tapping into the strength of Ghanaian and wider African communities across the US to rally behind the Black Stars while building sustainable development bridges beyond the tournament.

GFA president had a delegation which included Executive Council member Frederick Acheampong, Director of Marketing Jamil Maraby and Chief of Staff Michael Osekre.