The countdown to the 2026 Cheetah Cup has entered an exciting phase after organisers officially unveiled the four pots for the tournament’s group-stage draw, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the biggest pre-season football competitions in Ghana.
The eight-day tournament will take place from August 16 to August 23, 2026, at the Yartel Okoso Park in Senya Beraku, where 16 clubs—made up of 10 Ghanaian teams and six foreign clubs will compete for the coveted Cheetah Cup trophy.
As tournament hosts, Cheetah FC have been seeded in Pot 1 alongside Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak, Slovakian side MSK Žilina FC, and Namoro FC. The seeding ensures each group will feature one team from each pot, creating balanced and highly competitive fixtures.
The tournament format follows the common practice of distributing one team from each pot into every group.
The pots for the draw are:
Pot 1: Cheetah FC, Hearts of Oak, MSK Žilina FC, Namoro FC
Pot 2: New Gen, Oma Senya, Gaz Nobles FC, FC Samartex
Pot 3: Villa Real, P-Sports, CFFA Foot, Kacis Club
Pot 4: Dream Team, Mbakasoko, Black Man Warriors, Pan African FC
With several top clubs spread across the different pots, fans are eagerly anticipating the draw, as it could produce mouthwatering group-stage clashes. There is already excitement over the possibility of Hearts of Oak facing FC Samartex, MSK Žilina locking horns with rising Ghanaian sides, or hosts Cheetah FC being handed a difficult path in front of their home supporters.
Beyond the football, the Cheetah FC Cup has continued to grow into a major platform for player development, talent identification, and international football collaboration. The inclusion of clubs from six different countries has boosted the competition’s profile, giving local players the opportunity to test themselves against foreign opposition while attracting scouts, coaches, and football enthusiasts from across the region.
The tournament has also generated significant economic activity in Senya Beraku, with local businesses, hotels, transport operators, and vendors expected to benefit from the influx of teams, officials, and supporters throughout the week-long event.
With the official draw fast approaching and the World Cup match ball already confirmed as the tournament’s official ball, anticipation continues to build for another memorable edition of the Cheetah Cup, as 16 ambitious clubs prepare to battle for supremacy in one of Ghana’s fastest-growing football tournaments.