Rwanda is dreaming big. The country has set ambitious sports goals, and some leaders even hope to one day host the FIFA Men’s World Cup. While that might sound far-fetched, the groundwork has already begun. The country is in the middle of a serious sports infrastructure upgrade, starting with the main Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, The stadium, which was expanded from 25,000 to a massive 45,000 seats, now meets international standards.”
The Ministry of Sports has a clear vision, announcing a plan to build five international-standard stadiums by 2028. You can see the projects taking shape across the country: new or renovated venues are underway in Kigali, Huye, Muhanga, Nyanza, and Bugesera, to name a few. For instance, FIFA itself has selected Muhanga for a new 30,000-seat stadium, with the government providing the land and FIFA/CAF funding the construction. Down in the south, Huye Stadium also got a facelift, upgraded to a 10,000-seat venue. And in the Eastern Province, three new 3,000-seat stadiums are being built in Bugesera, Ngoma, and Nyagatare, each with athletics tracks and artificial turf.
But let’s be realistic: to host a World Cup, Rwanda would need to go well beyond even these impressive plans. FIFA’s requirements for the men’s tournament are immense. The rules call for at least fourteen all-seater stadiums, each with a 40,000-plus capacity. And that’s not all—you also need one 80,000-seat venue for the final and multiple 60,000-seat stadiums for the semi-finals. Plus, host countries need dozens of high-quality team training sites, broadcast centers, airports, and hotels. Even with the Amahoro upgrade, Rwanda falls well short of those numbers.
In practice, a joint bid is the only way forward. Rwanda would likely have to team up with its East African neighbors. Imagine a scenario where Kenya (with its ~60k Kasarani Stadium) or Tanzania (with its similar-sized Benjamin Mkapa Stadium) provides the largest venues, and Rwanda hosts some of the group-stage matches. A coalition of countries could pool their resources and infrastructure to meet the daunting requirements.
Building More Than Just Stadiums
Beyond bricks and mortar, a successful bid requires sharp organization and strong leadership. Rwanda’s Football Federation (FERWAFA) and the Ministry of Sports would need to spearhead a bid committee and work hand-in-hand with FIFA and CAF.
Rwanda has already proven it can handle continental events—it successfully organized the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals—but a World Cup is an entirely different beast. Officials have learned from past experiences; for instance, in 2018, FERWAFA withdrew a bid for the U-17 World Cup when it realized it was too late to meet all the requirements. A World Cup campaign needs many years of meticulous preparation.
Fortunately, Rwanda’s top leadership has been cultivating support. President Kagame maintains a strong relationship with FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino. A clear sign of this trust came in 2023, when FIFA opened an office in Kigali and held its 73rd Congress there. The Sports Ministry is also smart about enlisting global bodies for help; the new stadiums are being developed under FIFA Forward and CAF programs, bringing in crucial expertise and funding.
A formal World Cup bid would be a massive undertaking, requiring detailed feasibility studies and government guarantees. The “bid book” would need to show exactly how Rwanda and its potential partners could meet FIFA’s stringent criteria. Key preparatory steps would likely include forming a high-level bid committee, developing a comprehensive plan for everything from stadiums to security, and collaborating with regional football associations for a joint-East African bid.
From Pitch to People: A Lasting Legacy
A modern World Cup is about more than just football; it’s about sustainability and community impact. FIFA is very clear that it evaluates bids based on “sustainability, environmental protections and human rights.” Rwanda, known for its strong environmental policies, could use this to its advantage. Imagine stadiums built with solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and green materials. The Amahoro Stadium renovation is already being designed with energy efficiency in mind, and Rwanda could aim for LEED-like certified stadiums to align with its Green Growth and Climate Resilience vision.
Hosting the tournament could also be a catalyst for Rwanda’s broader development goals. Major events drive investment—think of how the 1988 Seoul Olympics accelerated infrastructure growth in South Korea. Similarly, World Cup preparations could lead to major upgrades in roads, airports, and public transport. Tourism and service industries would boom, creating thousands of jobs in hotels and local businesses. A successful bid could leave a powerful legacy, not just of new stadiums, but of a more connected and prosperous nation.
Security and Partnering for Success
Let’s face it: security and logistics for a World Cup are no joke. You need to protect hundreds of thousands of fans and officials, which requires a finely tuned coordination of police, military, and emergency services. Rwanda has already demonstrated its capability by successfully hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Summit and a steady stream of international conferences.
For a World Cup, however, the scale would be immense. Plans would need to cover everything from crowd control to cyber-security and anti-terror measures. Experts say host countries often bring in international agencies like the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to help. Qatar, for example, worked with the ICSS for over a decade to prepare for the 2022 World Cup. Rwanda would need a similar long-term effort, using its hilly terrain strategically for perimeter security and investing in technology like surveillance cameras and biometric entry systems.
Realistically, Rwanda won’t host a World Cup in the next few years. Major bids are usually submitted 8–10 years in advance. As one federation leader said, a World Cup is a “huge undertaking” that needs time. A plausible timeline might see Rwanda begin concrete planning in the early 2030s for a 2040s World Cup. Over the next decade, the country can continue to build and renovate stadiums as planned through 2028 and host increasingly large CAF tournaments to build its resume.
International partners would be absolutely vital. FIFA and CAF funding is already helping with stadium projects. Other countries, like China’s CRBC company, are already financing stadiums in Rwanda, and similar deals could be used for even bigger projects. Collaborating with East African neighbors would not only share the costs but also unite the region behind a common goal.
Hosting a FIFA World Cup is a daunting dream for Rwanda, but the country is clearly starting to prepare. By rapidly expanding stadiums, building up skilled organizing bodies, and leveraging international support, Rwanda could lay the groundwork over the next decade. There are still huge hurdles, but Rwanda’s leadership is determined to use sport as a tool for development. As one analyst noted, this ambitious sports strategy could “yield big dividends, both financially and diplomatically.” With sustained commitment, Rwanda could one day turn the improbable dream of hosting the World Cup into a reality, bringing global football to its green hills and building a lasting legacy for future generations.
Post Comment