Rwanda’s agreement to host Formula One’s first African Grand Prix in more than three decades promises international exposure, tourism opportunities and investment, but undisclosed costs and human rights concerns raise questions about whether the project will deliver lasting benefits.

Formula One announced a 10-year agreement with Rwanda on Oct. 13, 2026, paving the way for the championship to return to Africa for the first time since 1993.

The inaugural race is planned for the early 2030s at a new circuit in Bugesera, south of Kigali, as President Paul Kagame’s government seeks to establish the country as a destination for international business, tourism and major sporting events.

The deal represents a significant expansion of Rwanda’s strategy to promote its international image through high-profile sports partnerships.

But with the financial terms undisclosed, the investment raises questions about its cost, the distribution of its economic benefits and whether the government’s ambitions justify the commitment.

Global advertisement

Rwanda is not simply buying the right to stage a sporting competition. It is investing in a recurring international showcase that could associate the country with technology, luxury tourism, business and sporting excellence.

Formula One broadcasts will expose Rwanda to audiences worldwide, while the race could attract international journalists, corporate executives, sponsors and wealthy spectators. The government hopes that attention will translate into more tourists, private investment and commercial activity.

The strategy builds on Rwanda’s Visit Rwanda campaign, which has used partnerships with prominent football clubs, including Arsenal and Aston Villa, to promote the country.

Formula One would extend that approach into a sport with a global calendar and substantial commercial reach.

Unlike a conventional advertising campaign, however, hosting a Grand Prix requires a long-term commitment to infrastructure, operations and contractual obligations.

The agreement’s financial terms have not been publicly disclosed in the available reporting. The total hosting fees, construction costs and potential public liabilities therefore remain unclear.

Expenses could include circuit construction, safety installations, spectator facilities, security, medical services, transport and long-term maintenance.

Even if private investors finance parts of the project, public authorities could face costs associated with roads, utilities and other supporting infrastructure.

Without greater transparency, it is difficult to determine who carries the financial risks or whether the expected returns will justify the investment.

Tourism, jobs and investment

The government’s ambitions extend beyond race weekend. Rwanda wants to attract international tourism, conferences, major sporting events and foreign investment, and Formula One could help advance those goals.

Visitors could spend money on hotels, restaurants, transport and other local services. Corporate guests might also use the event to explore investment opportunities or establish business relationships.

The proposed circuit’s location in Bugesera, about 40 kilometers south of Kigali, is significant because it is near a new international airport under construction. The area could become part of a wider development zone combining transport, tourism and commercial facilities.

But international exposure does not automatically produce economic growth. The benefits will depend on visitor numbers, spending patterns and how much business reaches Rwandan companies rather than foreign contractors or international hotel groups.

The race could also create jobs in construction, hospitality, logistics, broadcasting and event management. Developing local expertise in motorsport operations could provide longer-term opportunities.

However, temporary construction work and race-weekend employment are not the same as permanent jobs. The project’s lasting value will depend on whether local workers acquire transferable skills and domestic businesses win contracts.

Building a sustainable venue

The Bugesera circuit must meet the standards required to host a Formula One world championship race. Former Formula One driver Alex Wurz is involved in its design, while the planned location offers potential logistical advantages because of its proximity to the new airport.

Yet the circuit will need a purpose beyond hosting an annual Grand Prix.

Purpose-built racing facilities require continuing maintenance and operating expenditure. If the venue attracts little activity between races, it could become an expensive asset with limited commercial value. Regional motorsport competitions, corporate events and other entertainment activities could help generate revenue, provided demand is sufficient.

Vietnam offers a cautionary example. A circuit was built in Hanoi for a Formula One race scheduled for 2020, but the event was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic and never took place.

Rwanda’s project is different, and its outcome remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the comparison highlights the risks of investing heavily in infrastructure tied to a major sporting event before its long-term commercial viability is established.

Sportswashing debate

The financial questions are accompanied by criticism of Rwanda’s human rights record.

Amnesty International criticized Formula One’s agreement, arguing that it could help the Rwandan government improve its international image despite allegations of arbitrary detention, torture and restrictions on freedom of expression. Formula One has emphasized the sport’s potential to inspire people and reach new audiences in Africa.

The controversy reflects a broader debate over sportswashing, the use of sporting events and partnerships to improve the reputation of governments or institutions facing criticism.

Kagame’s government has pursued economic development and international investment since the 1994 genocide. At the same time, human rights organizations have raised concerns about restrictions on political opposition, civil society and freedom of expression.

The Grand Prix will not resolve those concerns. Critics argue that international sporting partnerships can give governments prestigious platforms without requiring meaningful improvements in their human rights records. Supporters of such partnerships maintain that international events can promote tourism, create jobs and encourage investment.

Rwanda’s regional role adds another dimension. The country has faced allegations of supporting the M23 rebel movement in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, where the conflict has caused widespread suffering. Rwanda has disputed accusations concerning its involvement.

The agreement therefore places Formula One within a wider debate about the responsibilities of international sporting organizations when selecting host countries.

Why Formula One chose Rwanda

The deal also advances Formula One’s commercial ambitions. Returning to Africa would restore the championship’s presence on a continent it has not visited for a world championship race since 1993 and expand its reach into a potentially important market.

Formula One has cited an estimated 100 million fans across Africa, highlighting the audience it hopes to reach. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has also advocated for the sport to return to the continent.

South Africa had pursued a return to the calendar through the historic Kyalami circuit, which last hosted a championship race in 1993. Rwanda’s agreement secures an opportunity to bring the sport back to Africa, although it does not rule out another African race in the future.

For Formula One, Rwanda offers a government willing to commit to a long-term project. For Kagame, the championship provides international exposure that conventional advertising would struggle to replicate.

Will ordinary Rwandans benefit?

The project’s ultimate test will be whether its economic benefits extend beyond government prestige and international publicity.

If public resources support the circuit or its associated infrastructure, citizens have a legitimate interest in knowing whether the money could generate greater returns through health care, education, housing or transport.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave “no satisfactory answers” when grilled Thursday during a meeting to discuss his attempts to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors, senior members of football’s global governing body said, but he did offer an apology for the failed project.

“We asked a great many critical questions, but there were no satisfactory answers from my point of view,” said Bernd Neuendorf, the head of the German Football Association (DFB), who is also a member of the FIFA Council.

Neuendorf was speaking after the Council met behind closed doors at the body’s Zurich headquarters, where Infantino’s FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal was one of the main topics on the agenda.

Infantino has been under severe pressure since his announcement in late July that he wanted to open FIFA’s premium competitions such as the World Cup to private investors.

That plan was ultimately abandoned in the face of widespread criticism, with a rebellion led by European governing body UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and CONCACAF, which runs the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

“I apologized for the mistakes that we made in relation to the communication and consultation process related to the FIFA Forward Enterprise project,” Infantino said in a video published by FIFA.

“But what is important to remember is that it was a proposal, so in no way a done deal, just a proposal, that actually intended to enable FIFA to invest more in our member associations.”

However, the FIFA chief reaffirmed that the FFE initiative “has been permanently withdrawn and will not reappear in any form.”

Infantino has headed FIFA since 2016 and is running for reelection next March, despite calls for him to stand down in the wake of the FFE plan.

For the moment, no heavyweight candidate has put themselves forward to run against him.

Debbie Hewitt, the chair of the English Football Association who is also a FIFA vice president, told reporters that Infantino is “not fit to be FIFA president” unless he releases all documents pertaining to the failed sell-off plan and answers key questions.

Hewitt and Neuendorf are among the 36 members of the FIFA Council, along with Infantino.

“We were asked to submit our questions,” in relation to the plan which was not put to the FIFA Council before the July announcement, Hewitt said.

“One of the disappointing things was we didn’t get answers. We didn’t get answers to anything we had specifically requested, for example getting the papers from FFE, and so we asked the question why and why not.”

Nothing has shifted

Many leading European national associations have withdrawn their support for Infantino in the upcoming election because of the uproar caused by FFE and other controversies, including his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Chief among those were Infantino’s decision to create a FIFA Peace Prize and award it to Trump at last December’s World Cup draw, and the decision to suspend a ban for United States striker Folarin Balogun following a red card during the World Cup after Trump intervened directly by phoning Infantino.

“I speak for myself as a Council member – from my position nothing has shifted,” Hewitt added. “I have no new information that makes me feel any differently to how I felt when I went in, other than we do have a president of FIFA who is apologetic about what has happened, and secondly a promise again that we will get the information that we have requested.”

FIFA confirmed its intention to set up a $6.35 billion development fund for the next four years, a plan which is expected to be finalized by the Council at its next meeting in December.

To finance the fund, which would allow money to be distributed to FIFA’s 211 federations as well as to the regional confederations, it would draw in part on its financial reserves after a commercially successful 2026 World Cup.

The plan would allow for the payment of $25 million to all 211 member federations.

Infantino may hope the latest plan reinforces his position ahead of the election.

The deadline for submitting candidacies is Nov. 18.

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Oh Hyeon-Gyu scored twice and provided an assist as Beşiktaş beat struggling Hoffenheim 3-2 away on Thursday to make it two wins from two games in the Europa League.

Bundesliga strugglers Hoffenheim almost had a dream start when Koki Machida headed against the right post three minutes into the game, and Adam Hlozek hit the side netting a little later.

Beşiktaş had their first major chance in the 56th minute, but Ilhan Fakılı’s low shot from the right side of the penalty area narrowly missed the far post.

A minute later, Trossard broke through the defense and went one-on-one with goalkeeper Baumann, but his shot from the left side of the box went wide.

The game came to life in the second half, and the large Turkish fan contingent at the Sinsheim stadium had reason to cheer on the hour when Michael Amir Murillo converted from short range off Oh to put the visitors 1-0 up.

Hoffenheim fought back and silenced the Beşiktaş fans again in the 68th from Fisnik Asllani’s shot into the left corner for the equalizer.

But the Germans’ hopes were short-lived as South Korea’s Oh restored Beşiktaş’s lead four minutes later on the counter and then slid in to convert Fakılı’s cross from the right for 3-1 in the 79th.

Machida pulled one back with an 88th-minute header, but Hoffenheim were unable to avoid a second defeat.

Thursday’s results

Salzburg 0-4 Milan Lyon 3-2 Crystal Palace Torreense 1-2 Sunderland Az Alkmaar 2-1 Hapoel Beer Sheva Lech Poznan 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen Sparta Prague 1-1 Lillestrom Celje 0-3 Omonia Nicosia Union Saint-Gilloise 1-1 Real Sociedad Dinamo Zagreb 0-0 Anderlecht Jagiellonia Bialystok 3-1 Ararat-Armenia Bournemouth 3-0 Sturm Graz Celta Vigo 1-2 Juventus Nijmegen 1-1 Levski Sofia Ferencvaros 2-1 Viktoria Plzen Benfica 4-1 Celtic Marseille 0-1 Olympiacos Rennes 2-1 OFI

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Aryna Sabalenka’s struggles continued Wednesday as the Belarusian top seed suffered a shock 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) defeat to unseeded American Ann Li in the Wuhan Open round of 32.

The loss extended a frustrating spell for the four-time Grand Slam champion, who has not won a title since completing the Sunshine Double with victories at Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year.

Sabalenka reached the U.S. Open final last month but lost to Elena Rybakina, leaving the 28-year-old facing her first season without a Grand Slam title since 2022.

She also suffered a third-round exit at the China Open earlier this month and surrendered the No. 1 ranking to Rybakina following the U.S. Open.

The early exit came at a tournament where Sabalenka has enjoyed considerable success. She won the Wuhan title in 2018, 2019 and 2024. The WTA 1000 event was not held from 2020-23 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Li, ranked 31st in the world, earned the biggest win of her career after recovering from a 4-2 deficit in the second set to force a deciding set.

Sabalenka’s hopes appeared all but over when she fell 4-1 behind in the final set and took a medical timeout. However, she mounted a late fightback, saving five match points before holding serve to make it 5-3.

Li kept her composure to finally convert her 10th match point and seal a memorable upset.

Sabalenka’s error-strewn display proved costly, as she hit 44 unforced errors compared with Li’s 28 during the two-hour, 27-minute match.

Earlier Wednesday, American second seed Jessica Pegula also exited the tournament, with 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko rallying from a set down to secure a 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3 victory.

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Shakhtar Donetsk secured their first win of the season in the UEFA Champions League with a 3-1 victory over AEK on Wednesday, giving coach Arda Turan a memorable milestone at Stamford Bridge.

The Ukrainian side came from behind to beat the Greek club in the second round of the competition, with Pedrinho equalizing from the penalty spot before Vinicius Tobias and Gleiker Mendoza scored late goals to seal the victory.

The result lifted Shakhtar to four points after two matches, while AEK remained on three points after suffering their first defeat in four European games without conceding a goal.

AEK made the stronger start in front of their vocal supporters and nearly took the lead in the third minute. Lovro Majer delivered a corner from the left, and Harold Moukoudi rose above the defense to head against the post.

Shakhtar gradually settled into the contest and began testing goalkeeper Alberto Brignoli from distance. Alisson Santana forced a sharp save from the AEK goalkeeper in the ninth minute, with Brignoli turning his effort behind for a corner.

AEK broke the deadlock in the 28th minute after capitalizing on a Shakhtar mistake. Vinicius Tobias lost possession, allowing the Greek side to launch an attack down the left. Stavros Pilios carried the ball forward before picking out Majer, who finished low into the net to put AEK ahead.

Shakhtar responded quickly and were awarded a penalty after a VAR review. Filipe Relvas brought down Santana inside the penalty area, prompting English referee Chris Kavanagh to point to the spot.

Pedrinho took responsibility in the 34th minute and sent Brignoli the wrong way to restore parity at 1-1.

Both sides created opportunities as the match opened up, but neither could find the decisive finish until the final 10 minutes.

Shakhtar took the lead in the 80th minute when Santana picked out Tobias on the right side of the penalty area. Tobias fired from a tight angle, and the ball deflected off Brignoli’s foot before crossing the line.

Six minutes later, Mendoza put the result beyond doubt. The Shakhtar forward broke into the penalty area from the left and produced a composed finish into the top-right corner to complete the 3-1 victory.

The win marked a significant step for Turan, who claimed his first Champions League victory as a coach in only his second match in the competition. Shakhtar had opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw away to PSV Eindhoven.

Turan returns to Stamford Bridge for another milestone

Stamford Bridge provided a fitting setting for another memorable European night for Turan, who scored at the stadium 12 years earlier while playing for Atletico Madrid.

Atletico defeated Chelsea 3-1 in the second leg of their 2013-14 Champions League semifinal, advancing to the final after a goalless draw in the first leg. Turan scored Atletico’s third goal in the 72nd minute to help secure their place in the final.

More than a decade later, the former Turkey international returned to the same ground in a different role and secured his first Champions League win from the dugout.

After drawing his managerial debut in the competition against PSV, Turan now has four points from his first two matches as Shakhtar continue their European campaign.

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Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been handed a four-match suspension for pulling an opponent’s hair and aggressively protesting his subsequent red card, ruling him out of the upcoming El Clasico against Barcelona and prompting a furious response from coach Jose Mourinho.

The Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee announced the punishment Wednesday, just hours before Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Roma in the Italian capital. Mourinho criticized the timing, arguing that the decision unnecessarily disrupted his team’s preparations for a crucial European fixture.

Vinicius was sent off in the 73rd minute of Saturday’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Villarreal after pulling the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba as the two players sprinted down the field. Vinicius had scored shortly before the incident, but his goal was ruled out.

The disciplinary committee imposed a two-match suspension for the hair-pulling incident and an additional two matches for his conduct toward referee Isidro Diaz de Mera after the dismissal.

According to the referee’s match report, Vinicius protested the decision aggressively, raising his voice while moving toward the official and having to be restrained by teammates.

The suspension comes at a difficult time for Real Madrid, who face a demanding stretch of league fixtures that includes their meeting with bitter rivals Barcelona. The Catalan club hold a six-point lead over Madrid at the top of the standings, increasing the importance of the upcoming Clasico.

Real Madrid were expected to appeal the decision, although Spanish media reported that an initial appeal had already been rejected.

Timing issues

Mourinho, whose team recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Roma 4-3, made little effort to conceal his frustration with the announcement.

The Portuguese coach questioned why the federation had chosen to reveal the punishment so close to kickoff, particularly when a Spanish club was preparing for a European match that could affect the country’s standing in continental competition.

“Do you think it’s normal for a player from a Spanish team, preparing for an important match that’s also crucial for Spanish football, to find out about his four-match suspension just two hours before kickoff?” Mourinho said after the game.

“Couldn’t they have announced the decision now or tomorrow morning? We were on the bus about to arrive at the stadium when we found out.”

Mourinho went further, accusing the authorities of showing a lack of respect toward the club and its player.

“They’ve started doing things without any shame,” he said.

The coach also argued that the announcement could have affected Vinicius mentally ahead of the match, describing the timing as difficult to understand given the importance of the fixture.

“A Spanish team that has earned three points for Spanish football, for the rankings, for the prestige of Spanish football,” Mourinho said. “You want to kill a player two hours before the match. It doesn’t seem normal to me.”

Despite the controversy, Vinicius started against Roma as Madrid produced a dramatic late comeback to secure victory.

Fixture schedule

The suspension was not the only issue Mourinho raised after the match. He also criticized the scheduling of Madrid’s upcoming domestic and European fixtures, questioning why his team had been assigned a demanding turnaround between matches.

Madrid are scheduled to face AEK Athens in Greece on Nov. 4 before traveling to Valencia for a La Liga match on Nov. 7. Mourinho argued that the travel demands and limited recovery time would put his players at a disadvantage ahead of an already difficult league encounter.

“At the very least, it’s a lack of respect,” he said when asked about the scheduling.

Mourinho pointed to the prospect of returning from Athens in the early hours of Thursday morning before preparing for Saturday’s match in Valencia, which he described as an especially difficult away fixture.

He also dismissed explanations that television broadcasters were responsible for the scheduling decisions.

“The usual excuses, I don’t buy them, because this wasn’t 25 years ago,” Mourinho said. “The excuses from TV, that it was TV that decided, that it was TV that chose the match for Saturday, I don’t buy this anymore. I’m too old to swallow this.”

Mourinho said he intended to challenge what he viewed as unfair treatment of the club and its supporters.

“And this Vinicius story, two hours before a match, knowing that he has a four-match suspension, doesn’t deserve comment,” he said. “Real Madrid fans aren’t stupid, and I will do everything possible to open people’s eyes.”

Late comeback

While Mourinho was critical of the authorities, his team delivered one of the most dramatic moments of the night on the field.

Madrid trailed 3-1 after Donyell Malen scored twice for Roma, leaving the visitors facing defeat with seven minutes remaining. Mourinho’s substitutions then helped transform the contest, with Endrick and Carlos Espi scoring during the late rally while Arda Güler supplied two assists.

The comeback secured a 4-3 victory and offered Madrid a valuable result in their Champions League campaign, even as the controversy surrounding Vinicius threatened to overshadow the performance.

Mourinho rejected suggestions that the turnaround had been part of a carefully planned strategy, but said he believed his substitutes could make a difference late in the game.

“I’m not going to be a genius and say I had prepared everything for a 3-1 to 4-3 victory, it’s not true,” he said.

“But I genuinely thought that in the last 20 minutes I had substitutions I could make, and I had substitutions that could change things.”

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