Africa's Own Gothia Cup.
The Kigali City Cup International — Youth Edition is a pan-African & global youth football festival hosted every July in Kigali, Rwanda. Eleven age categories, two divisions, one continent's most exciting new stage.
News & Updates.
Africa is football's future.
Its home should be here.
Every July, hundreds of African youth academies pack their bags for Gothenburg, Sweden — home of the Gothia Cup, the world's largest youth football tournament. In 2026 alone, 1,956 teams from 78 nations sent roughly 45,300 players and leaders to Sweden — contributing an estimated US $95 million to the local economy in one week.
Almost none of it captured on the African continent.
Kigali City Cup International — Youth Edition asks a simple question: why doesn't Africa, home to the world's youngest population and one of football's deepest talent pools, have its own flagship youth tournament?
Five pillars.
A structured, high-level competitive platform for players aged 10 to 20 across boys' and girls' divisions.
Showcase emerging African talent to scouts, agents and professional pathways — without leaving the continent.
Position Kigali as a premier annual youth-football destination, redirecting spend into Rwanda's economy.
Generate sponsorship, media and B2B networking opportunities for African and international partners.
Bring young footballers from across the continent together in a shared, home-grown festival of football and culture.
Eleven categories.
Boys & Girls.
- • Group stage followed by knockout rounds and category finals.
- • Multiple pitches across Kigali.
- • Tournament window of 7–9 days, timed to the July school-holiday period.
- • Opening Ceremony with a flag parade of nations and a cultural showcase.
- Fan & Culture Village — Food, music, and Rwandan culture alongside the football programme.
- Scouting Showcase — Accredited scouts, licensed agents, and club representatives from across Africa and abroad.
- Coaching Clinics — Licensed coaching workshops and youth-development seminars for local coaches.
- Sports Business Forum — Club management sessions, sponsorship networking, and football technology presentations.
Seven days.
Mid-July · Kigali.
The framework below shows the shape of the tournament week. Exact dates, kickoff times and category fixtures publish once the inaugural year is confirmed.
Brochure & sponsorship pack.
Youth Edition Brochure
Full tournament overview, format, age categories, participation criteria, sponsorship tiers and contact information.
Download PDF ↓Sponsorship Deck
Partner tiers, activation touchpoints, audience & reach, CSR programmes and contact for our commercial team.
Download PDF ↓A ready host. A clear gap.
Rwanda has hosted the BAL Finals, Tour du Rwanda, and the 2025 UCI Road World Championships.
Visit Rwanda partnerships with Arsenal, PSG and Bayern Munich place Rwanda in front of football's biggest audiences.
Consistently ranked among Africa's safest, cleanest capitals — visa-on-arrival for AU nationals.
Kigali City FC and Weskaut Sports Management provide a ready-made scouting and player-development pipeline.
No pan-African tournament currently matches Gothia Cup's scale — African academies have nowhere comparable close to home.
| Metric | Gothia Cup (Sweden) | Kigali City Cup International |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1975 | Inaugural year — TBC |
| 2026 Scale | 1,956 teams · 78 nations | Year 1 target — TBC |
| Participants | 45,300 players & leaders | Year 1 target — TBC |
| Tourism Impact | ≈ US $95 million (one week) | Modelled with RDB / Ministry of Sports |
Partner with the movement.
Exclusive naming rights and maximum visibility across all tournament platforms.
Premium branding, full activation rights, and VIP hospitality access.
Tournament-wide branding and sustained media presence.
Digital and venue branding package.
Express your interest.
Team fee, deadline and squad requirements are being finalised. Submit your details below and our team will contact you with confirmed information as soon as the inaugural edition is officially opened for entries.
Build Africa's youth football home with us.
Together, we are building Africa's own home for the world's youth football.