Uganda has indicated its ambition to bid for the 2038 FIFA World Cup

Uganda has officially declared its intention to bid to host the 2038 FIFA World Cup, setting out a long-term vision to bring the world’s biggest football tournament to East Africa. The announcement was made on February 27, 2026, by Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, Permanent Secretary in Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports, during a parliamentary session.

Government officials say the strategy is built around gradual preparation, using major continental tournaments as stepping stones to demonstrate Uganda’s readiness to stage a global event. Central to the plan is a significant push to upgrade sports infrastructure across the country. Authorities are working to build and modernize stadiums to meet international standards, with a target of facilities capable of seating more than 45,000 spectators.

Uganda is already positioning itself through regional collaboration. The country is set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Kenya and Tanzania under the banner of the Africa Cup of Nations. It also recently co-hosted the 2024 African Nations Championship, gaining valuable experience in managing large-scale football events.

In addition, Uganda has formally submitted a bid to host the 2031 African Games, another major continental competition that officials believe would further strengthen the country’s credentials and operational experience ahead of a potential World Cup.

As of March 2026, several stadium projects are at different stages of completion. A newly constructed 20,000-capacity venue, designed to be expandable for larger events, has been officially completed. Meanwhile, one of the country’s flagship stadiums is undergoing extensive renovations aimed at increasing its seating capacity to 45,000. In Lira City, a new stadium project is under construction and has reached 41 percent completion as of March 1, 2026.

Uganda’s ambition places it among several African nations exploring bids for the 2038 tournament. In West Africa, Ghana’s Sports Minister has proposed a possible joint bid involving Nigeria, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. Ghana has separately outlined a long-term national development plan that includes hosting the World Cup by 2038 as a strategic goal. Ivory Coast, following its successful hosting of AFCON 2023, has also seen political discussions about mounting a future World Cup bid.

While the 2038 tournament is still more than a decade away, Uganda’s announcement signals a bold and forward-looking commitment to expanding its sports infrastructure, strengthening regional partnerships, and positioning itself on the global football stage.