Rwanda has been confirmed as one of eight host nations for the 2026 FIFA Men’s Series, joining Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Puerto Rico, and Uzbekistan.
The announcement was made on Friday after discussions between FERWAFA president Fabrice Shema and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who praised Rwanda’s readiness to stage part of the global initiative. The tournament will take place in March 2026.
Infantino described the FIFA Series as an “innovative platform” aimed at creating new opportunities for national teams. “It’s about advancing players, coaches, and fans while expanding football knowledge. The 2026 edition will expand support for both men’s and women’s football worldwide,” he said.
The women’s FIFA Series will launch separately, with events planned in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, and Thailand. The full list of participating nations will be confirmed in early 2026.
The FIFA Series, initially introduced as the FIFA World Series, is a biennial invitational event that brings together national teams from different confederations for friendly matches every even-numbered year. The first edition was held in March 2024.
Rwanda’s selection reflects its growing reputation as a host of major international events. The country recently staged the UCI World Championships and is positioning itself to attract additional global sporting competitions, including motorsport and football tournaments.
