Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has commended world football governing body FIFA for what he described as tangible progress in infrastructure development under its current leadership.
Speaking about the FIFA Forward development initiative, Kagame said the results achieved during the tenure of FIFA President Gianni Infantino “speak for themselves”, pointing to visible investments in facilities and technical support across member associations.
Launched in 2016, the FIFA Forward programme was designed to channel structured, transparent funding to all 211 member associations and six continental confederations. The initiative aims to boost global football development through long-term investment in infrastructure, administrative capacity and competitive standards.
FIFA has committed more than $5 billion through the programme, supporting the construction of pitches, strengthening governance systems and covering essential costs such as national team travel. The model is built around tailored support, allowing associations to address specific local priorities while aligning with broader international benchmarks.
In Rwanda, Kagame said the impact has been concrete. Funding from FIFA Forward has enabled the construction of an accommodation facility for the national football federation, improving preparations and logistics for teams and officials.
The programme is also backing the development of pitches built to FIFA standards in Kigali, Rubavu, Rutsiro and Gicumbi, expanding access to quality playing surfaces beyond the capital.
–ChannelAfrica–
