Ronald Lusulire
February 24, 2026Rwanda to host two FIFA series 2026 groups as Kenya and Tanzania confirmed
Rwanda to host two FIFA series 2026 groups as Kenya and Tanzania confirmed
Rwanda will play host to two regional groups of the FIFA Series 2026, with East African rivals Kenya and Tanzania among the teams set to compete during the March and April international match window.
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The official match schedule has now been released, confirming Rwanda as one of 11 host nations for the global initiative, which brings together national teams from across all six confederations. In Rwanda, the focus will be on a competitive regional run of fixtures, offering fans a rare opportunity to see neighbouring nations face off within a FIFA-sanctioned international framework.
The FIFA Series is an initiative approved by FIFA to create meaningful international friendly matches, particularly between teams that do not regularly compete against one another.
While the programme has a global scope, the groups will highlight regional competition, strengthening football development and rivalries within East Africa.
The 2026 edition will feature 48 national teams (men’s and women’s combined), competing across 12 groups of four teams each.
Rwanda is one of only a handful of member associations hosting more than one group, underlining its growing profile as a destination for international football events.
Matches will be played under agreed competition formats determined by the participants, either through semi-finals and a final or pre-arranged fixtures.
All drawn matches will be decided by penalty shoot-outs, ensuring competitive intensity and fan engagement throughout the series.
Each group will ultimately produce a group winner. Beyond the on-field action, all matches will be broadcast globally, providing international exposure for the participating teams and increased visibility for East African football on the world stage.
With Kenya and Tanzania set to feature, the groups promise a compelling blend of regional rivalry and international development, aligning local competition with FIFA’s broader strategic objective of growing the global game both on and off the pitch.