Uganda eyes future Fifa World Cup bid after Afcon 2027 boost

By Peterson Hiirya

Fresh from securing hosting rights for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Uganda is setting its sights on an even more ambitious target — a future bid to host the Fifa World Cup.

Government officials say long-term investments in sports infrastructure are being designed with the global showpiece in mind, with possible bids for the 2038 tournament or later editions under consideration.

The prospect was raised by Kedrace Turyagyenda, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports, during a session with Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Friday. The meeting was reviewing findings in the December 2025 Auditor General’s report when the discussion turned to the future of sports development in the country.

Turyagyenda said Uganda’s immediate priority is expanding and modernizing stadium infrastructure across different regions to meet international standards.

“However, the big plan of infrastructure development is to develop other stadia in other regions,” she told MPs. “We will keep pushing so that we get bigger stadia with a capacity of 45,000 or more. Eventually, we should be in position to bid, and if we are given a World Cup, then we have stadia to run.”

She added that preparations are already being considered ahead of future bidding cycles, noting that Uganda expects to have at least three major stadiums that could be evaluated for global tournaments.

Building capacity

Currently, Uganda’s largest facility is the Mandela National Stadium, commonly known as Namboole, which seats 45,000 spectators.

Other key projects include the Hoima City Stadium, which will have a 20,000-seat main arena alongside a 2,000-seat indoor sports hall and related facilities. The stadium is among venues earmarked for the 2027 Afcon tournament.

In northern Uganda, the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium is under construction as a multi-sport complex and is expected to accommodate about 20,000 spectators upon completion.

However, aside from Namboole, existing and planned facilities fall short of Fifa World Cup capacity requirements. A successful bid would require larger stadiums as well as expanded supporting infrastructure such as airports, roads, hotels, and training facilities.

Uganda currently relies on Entebbe International Airport as its sole international gateway, underscoring the scale of investment needed to host a tournament of global magnitude.

Learning from global hosts

The upcoming 2026 World Cup will be jointly staged by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The 2030 edition is set to be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, while Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the 2034 tournament.

Officials say Uganda’s successful Afcon 2027 bid has strengthened confidence in the country’s ability to organize large-scale continental competitions — an experience that could serve as a stepping stone toward more ambitious global events.

Turyagyenda stressed that developing at least three world-class stadiums is central to positioning Uganda for future bids.

“With the right infrastructure, planning, and experience from Afcon 2027, Uganda can turn this dream into reality,” she said.

While a World Cup bid remains a long-term aspiration, government officials say the current focus is on laying the groundwork — expanding facilities, strengthening institutions, and building the technical capacity needed to meet Fifa standards.

For now, Uganda’s World Cup ambitions remain on the drawing board. But with Afcon 2027 on the horizon, officials say the country is already preparing the foundation for what could one day become its biggest sporting stage yet.