FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday, the 26th December 2025 attended a youth football festival in Kigali and held high-level discussions with Rwandan football authorities on long-term infrastructure development, reinforcing FIFA’s continued support for football growth in Rwanda.

The festival, hosted at Amahoro National Stadium, brought together over 220 young players from football academies across the country. The event was also attended by President Paul Kagame, who highlighted the role of sport in promoting unity, discipline, and youth development.

On the sidelines of the festival, Infantino visited Amahoro Stadium, where he met Mr. John Bosco Birungi, the Chairman of the Executive Committee in charge of Infrastructure at FERWAFA. Their discussions focused on Rwanda’s five-year strategic plan for football infrastructure, including stadium upgrades, training facilities, and sustainable maintenance aligned with international standards.

According to officials, the plan aims to strengthen Rwanda’s capacity to host major football events while supporting grassroots development and professional football structures. FIFA expressed its readiness to continue working with FERWAFA through development frameworks such as FIFA Forward, particularly in infrastructure planning and technical support.

Infantino commended Rwanda’s structured approach to football development, noting that quality infrastructure is essential for nurturing talent and strengthening domestic competitions.

President Kagame reiterated that football remains an important tool for youth empowerment and social cohesion, adding that strategic investment in sports infrastructure contributes to national development goals.

The FIFA President later attended a Rwanda Premier League match, marking the conclusion of his visit and underlining FIFA’s engagement with both grassroots and elite football in the country.