Mario Balotelli has thrown his support behind Ghana's Black Stars at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing his Ghanaian roots as the reason he is cheering the West African side through their campaign.

"There is no Italy, so I support Ghana," Balotelli told Men in Blazers. "Obviously I'm from Ghana and I'm proud of Ghana."

Italy's failure to qualify for the tournament left the 35-year-old without a natural team to back — and he wasted no time turning to the land of his birth.

Ghana's path through the group stage

The Black Stars advanced to the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams from a group that also contained England, Croatia, and Panama. Ghana opened with a narrow 1-0 win over Panama, drew 0-0 with England, then fell 2-1 to Croatia on matchday three.

Ghana's next assignment is a round of 32 tie against Colombia, who topped Group K ahead of Portugal, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan.

Balotelli's Ghanaian heritage

Balotelli was born Mario Barwuah in Palermo, Sicily, to Ghanaian immigrant parents. When he was 2, the family relocated to Bagnolo Mella in the province of Brescia, Lombardy.

At the age of 3, in 1993, he entered foster care with the Balotelli family after his biological family was unable to meet his healthcare costs. His foster parents — Francesco Balotelli and Silvia, the Jewish daughter of a Holocaust survivor — raised him in the town of Concesio, Brescia, in northern Italy.

He initially split his time between both households before eventually being fostered full-time and taking the Balotelli surname. Because the family had not legally adopted him, he had to wait until his 18th birthday to apply for Italian citizenship, which he received on 13 August 2008 in Concesio.

At Euro 2012, Balotelli dedicated the goals that sent Italy to the final to his foster mother Silvia — a gesture that captured the emotional bond at the heart of his story.

A career at the top

Balotelli made his debut for the Italy senior national team in 2010 and went on to represent the Azzurri at Euro 2012, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He has played for some of Europe's most storied clubs, including Inter Milan, Manchester City, AC Milan, and Liverpool.

Now 35, Balotelli currently plays for UAE club Al-Ittifaq FC — and, for this World Cup at least, his heart belongs to the Black Stars.