2026 Democracy Cup Winners to Play Sunderland in Historic International Friendly
Organisers of the Democracy Cup have announced that the winners of the 2026 edition will earn the unique opportunity to face English Premier League side Sunderland in an international friendly match next year.
The major announcement was made during an appreciation ceremony held on Wednesday night at Parliament’s D.F. Annan Auditorium in Accra, where officials celebrated sponsors and partners of the 2025 Democracy Cup.
The English club shares a special connection with Ghana through former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan, who enjoyed a successful stint at Sunderland between 2010 and 2011.
Moderator of the event, Henry Asante Twum, broke the news with the full consent of Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
“Through the efforts of the organisers, Primeval Media Limited, and the Office of the Right Honourable Speaker, we have secured a partnership with Sunderland Football Club in England. So, the winner of the next edition will travel to England,”
— Henry Asante Twum announced.
As part of the symbolic gesture of friendship, Sunderland presented a framed number 3 jersey to Speaker Alban Bagbin, representing his position as the third-highest officeholder in Ghana’s political structure.
The Democracy Cup, launched in 2024, aims to promote peace, unity, and democratic values through football while strengthening ties between governance and sports. The competition continues to attract growing interest from corporate bodies, football clubs, and the wider public.
Accra Hearts of Oak are the current champions, having defeated Great Olympics 1-0 in the 2025 final held at the University of Ghana Stadium. Their triumph followed Asante Kotoko’s success in the 2024 edition, where they earned the chance to play D.C. United in Washington, D.C.
The 2026 edition promises to be even more exciting, with the Sunderland friendly offering players and fans alike a historic international experience that further cements the Democracy Cup’s reputation as a celebration of Ghana’s democratic and sporting excellence.
