Great news for Rwandan football fans! The newly-refurbished Amahoro Stadium has been given the green light by both FIFA and CAF to host international competitions, including the prestigious World Cup qualifiers.
The stadium underwent a significant upgrade, expanding its capacity to a whopping 45,000 seats. Inspections by CAF officials deemed the venue to be “one of the best on the African continent,” meeting all international standards.
The official stamp of approval comes just in time. A local derby between fierce rivals APR FC and Rayon Sports is set for the stadium’s debut on Saturday, June 15th. A grand inauguration ceremony will follow on July 4th, coinciding with Rwanda’s Liberation Day celebrations.
Rwanda can expect to see the stadium host its first international matches as early as September. The qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 are on the horizon, and the stadium will also be the venue for the highly anticipated Veterans Club World Championship, scheduled for September 1st through 10th.
CAF’s highest stadium category is fourth, while FIFA has its own classification system with Stade Amahoro achieving the coveted first category status. This distinction puts Amahoro Stadium in a select group of African venues capable of hosting the pinnacle of international football – the World Cup Final.
Construction on Amahoro Stadium began in February 2022 and was completed by a consortium led by Turkish company Summa Rwanda JV in collaboration with Rwandan firms like Real Contractors.
The stadium boasts a covered seating area for maximum comfort, dedicated workspaces for journalists, separate entry points for teams, and even locker room facilities for four teams – two playing and two on standby.
The inauguration of this international stadium marks a significant milestone for Rwandan sports infrastructure. With a capacity of 45,000, Amahoro Stadium positions Rwanda as a major player in the continental sporting scene.
This Saturday’s friendly match between APR FC and Rayon Sports, dubbed “Umuhuro mu Amahoro” (Peace in Amahoro), will be a historic occasion, officially opening the doors to a new era for Rwandan football.
