The Ghana Football Association has selected Bryant University as its official training site and base camp for the FIFA World Cup 2026, state and university officials announced Thursday.
Ghana’s Black Stars will use Bryant’s 43,000-square-foot field house and state-of-the-art training, recovery and wellness center during the tournament, which runs June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The team will be headquartered in Providence.
The announcement was made jointly by General Treasurer James Diossa, Bryant President Ross Gittell, Gov. Daniel McKee, U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and other state and sports officials.
“Rhode Island is honored to welcome the Ghanaian Black Stars,” said Diossa, who also chairs Ocean State 2026. “It will be exciting to watch them make their fifth FIFA World Cup appearance, and our state will be invested in their success.”
Training sessions will be closed to the public, though the Ghana Football Association said it is planning community programming for young players, with details to be announced.
This marks Ghana’s fifth World Cup appearance. The Black Stars reached the quarterfinals in 2010. This year, Ghana will compete in Group L, facing Panama on June 17 in Toronto, England on June 23 in Boston and Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.
The pitches at Bryant will be maintained by the same groundskeeper overseeing the playing surfaces at Boston’s World Cup stadium.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley extended an open invitation to Ghana supporters. “We are committed to being a festive destination for soccer fans from around the world,” he said, adding that fan experience plans would be announced at a later date.