ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Ghana's men's national team received a warm welcome from supporters on Tuesday night as community leaders and fans gathered ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The event, hosted by the Ghana Diaspora Public Affairs Collective, brought together hundreds of supporters to celebrate the arrival of the Black Stars. Fans gathered in team jerseys and traditional Ghanaian clothing outside of the team's hotel to show support for the national team as it prepares for the world's biggest sporting event.

The team will spend a week in Virgina before relocating to its training base in Rhode Island during the tournament. The Black Stars open the Group Stage against Panama on June 17 in Toronto,  then face Canada, England on June 23 in Foxborough, Mass., and Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.

The DMV includes Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, and is home to one of the nation's largest Ghanaian communities, according to a report released by Pew Research Center in March.

"The concentration of Ghanaians just in the DMV area alone is strong," said Raja Drah, a Ghana fan. "The DMV area is where most of the Ghanaians are in the United States."

The event featured traditional drumming, music, and dancing performances, as supporters gathered to celebrate Ghanaian heritage while showing appreciation for the national team.  

GHPAC, which stands for Ghana Diaspora Public Affairs Collective, is the largest Ghanaian diaspora organization in the United States.

"The DMV is home to a large Ghanaian community who are excited to support the national team," said Adjoa Kyerematen, president of GHPAC.

Kyerematen noted that many supporters may not have the opportunity to attend World Cup matches in person.

"Some fans cannot afford World Cup match tickets, or afford to travel to where the games are held," she said. "So this event is an opportunity for fans in the DMV area to show their support to the Black Stars and get a glimpse of the players."

Beyond soccer, organizers say the World Cup presents an opportunity to strengthen economic and cultural ties between Ghana and communities across the United States.

Ghana, a popular travel desitnation among U.S. blacks, has created campaigns to invite the diaspora to "Come Back Home." 

And now the team has qualified for the World Cup and can use this international stage to appeal to others to relocate.

"The World Cup is about global gathering," Adjoa Kyerematen said. "And an opportunity to facilitate cultural trade and commercial exchange and diplomacy, and so we'll be hosting trade forums where the Black Stars are training in Rhode Island as well as where the games are being held in Boston and Philadelphia." 

For many in the DMV's proud Ghanaian community, the welcome celebration highlighted that while the Black Stars will represent Ghana on the world stage, they also carry the support of a passionate diaspora thousands of miles from home.