World Cup 2026: Why I’m Supporting Ghana – Balotelli

Former Italy international Mario Balotelli has explained why he is backing Ghana’s Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ghana advanced to the round of 32 after finishing as one of the best third‑placed teams in a group that also contained England, Croatia and Panama.

The Black Stars opened with a 1‑0 win over Panama, then drew 0‑0 with England, and were defeated 2‑1 by Croatia on Saturday.

Ghana’s next match is a round‑of‑32 game against Colombia, who finished first in Group K ahead of Portugal, DR Congo and Uzbekistan.

At 35, Balotelli said he chose to support the Black Stars because Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup.

“There is no Italy, so I support Ghana,” the 35‑year‑old said on Men in Blazers. “Obviously I’m from Ghana and I’m proud of Ghana.”

Balotelli was born Mario Barwuah in Palermo, Sicily, to Ghanaian immigrants. When he was two, his family relocated to Bagnolo Mella in the Brescia province of Lombardy.

In 1993, at age three, he entered foster care with the Balotelli family after his own parents could not afford his health‑care expenses. His foster parents were Silvia, the Jewish daughter of Holocaust survivor Francesco Balotelli, and her husband. They resided in Concesio, Brescia, in northern Italy.

Initially, he lived with the Balotellis on weekdays and returned to his biological parents on weekends. Later he was permanently fostered by the Balotellis and adopted their surname.

In June 2012, he dedicated the goals that helped Italy reach the Euro 2012 final to his foster mother Silvia.

Because the Balotellis had not adopted him, Balotelli could not apply for Italian citizenship until his 18th birthday. He officially received citizenship in Concesio on 13 August 2008.

He debuted for Italy’s senior national team in 2010 and appeared at Euro