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A soccer ball featuring the Ocean State 2026 logo — the nonprofit created by the state to lead business sponsorship efforts on World Cup-related activities in Rhode Island.(Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
The Ghana men’s national soccer team will call Smithfield home this summer when it competes in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
State officials announced Thursday the Ghanaian Black Stars will use Bryant University’s 43,000-square-foot field house and wellness and athletic center as its training ground for the quadrennial tournament.
“Rhode Island is honored to welcome The Ghanaian Black Stars,” General Treasurer James Diossa, chairman of the nonprofit formed by the state last June to lead business sponsorship efforts on tournament-related activities, said in a statement. “They are a talented team with great depth and some young stars.”
Bryant is roughly 30 miles from Foxboro, Massachusetts — where seven matches are scheduled to be played between June 13 and July 9. That includes a match between the Black Stars and England set for June 23.
The four-time African soccer champions will also face off against Panama on June 17 in Toronto and Croatia’s national team on June 27 in Philadelphia.
Ghana’s national team is expected to stay in Providence while they practice in North America, Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed. He also extended an invitation to the soccer club’s fans and family members to stay in Rhode Island’s capital city for the tournament.
“We are committed to being a festive destination for soccer fans from around the world and look forward to announcing our fan experience plans,” Smiley said in a statement.
Tournament hosts FIFA on Oct. 1 added Bryant to its list of potential base camps for the games spanning 16 cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. At the time it was the only New England location listed as a training ground location.
Will Bryant University live up to its potential as World Cup base camp? R.I. officials are all in.
Rhode Island is no longer alone in the region in hosting a team, as the French Football Association announced in January that its national team would practice at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Ghana’s training sessions at Bryant will be closed to the public, according to the state’s announcement. But during their Rhode Island stay, officials say the Ghanaian team will participate in community programming with local youth soccer players.
“We’re working hard to ensure that the FIFA World Cup leaves behind a legacy of passion for the sport and a commitment to growing the game of soccer in Rhode Island,” Jonathan Walker, executive director for the Rhode Island Sports Commission, said in a statement.
State and local officials are also anticipating a significant economic boost for Rhode Island during the matches, noting earlier projections that the Massachusetts games could generate more than $330 million in local impact.
“Hosting this team highlights Rhode Island on the international stage and will help build on our record-breaking tourism numbers, bringing even more visitors to our state,” Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement.
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