Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) president Fabrice Shema has said the FIFA Series 2026 is about more than just football, noting that for several participating nations, it marks their first visit to Africa. Rwanda is for the first time hosting the FIFA Series International Friendlies from March 26-31 and Shema said the tournament offers not only a platform for competition but also an opportunity for teams to experience Rwanda’s hospitality. ALSO READ: Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars jet in ahead of FIFA Series 2026 “Before the FIFA Series, nobody from their teams knew Rwanda, so this will be their time to explore the country, and all this will happen through football,” he said. Eight nations—Kenya, Estonia, Grenada, Aruba, Liechtenstein, Macau, Tanzania and Rwanda—are taking part in the tournament split into two groups. According to Shema, the visiting teams will also have the opportunity to tour various tourist attractions across the country, a move expected to benefit Rwanda’s hospitality sector and the broader economy. “The good news is that we are using our local resources and building the capacity of our youth in terms of expertise, beyond just giving opportunities to our national team,” he explained. Beyond the matches, the tournament will also feature the unveiling of FIFA Arena facilities on March 30, an initiative Shema says will contribute to the development of Rwanda’s football ecosystem. Rwanda will face Grenada on Friday, March 27, at 21:00 CAT, while Kenya will take on Estonia earlier the same day at 18:00 CAT. Both matches will take place at Amahoro Stadium.
