The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has confirmed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has granted permission for the national team to host its upcoming qualifiers at the Mandela National Stadium (Namboole).
This decision comes after the stadium, which had been undergoing renovation for nearly four years since hosting its last international match in November 2019, passed the test to determine its readiness to host international fixtures
On May 1st, the stadium hosted two StarTimes Uganda Premier League test matches – an early kickoff between BUL and Vipers, followed by a late encounter between KCCA and SC Villa.
These test games were closely monitored by a CAF inspection team, who subsequently re-visited the stadium on May 8th to conduct a final assessment.
With the successful completion of the test games and the subsequent approval from CAF, the Mandela National Stadium is now set to welcome the Uganda Cranes for their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Botswana on June 3rd and Algeria on June 10th.
Uganda, currently sitting fourth in a six-team Group G, which also includes Algeria, Botswana, Guinea, Mozambique, and Somalia, will be aiming to finish at least second in the group to secure a spot in the final round of African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in their history.
With the home advantage secured, the Uganda Cranes will be eager to capitalize on the opportunity and take a significant step towards their first-ever World Cup appearance.
