Tanzania is exploring a potential partnership with Spanish football powerhouse FC Barcelona as the government seeks to strengthen talent development, technical capacity and football administration ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Paul Makonda began a four-day visit to Barcelona on Monday, September 14, following an invitation from the club’s president, Joan Laporta.
The discussions are focused on how Barcelona’s experience in developing players, coaching, technical training and managing football structures could be adapted to support Tanzania’s football development.
The engagement is particularly significant as Tanzania prepares to co-host Afcon 2027 with Kenya and Uganda, giving the country an opportunity to use the tournament not only as a sporting event but also as a platform to strengthen its football systems.
The talks have covered talent identification and development, technical training and the exchange of experience in managing and developing national teams.
A partnership with Barcelona could also create opportunities for young Tanzanian players and coaches to gain exposure to international football development systems, while helping local institutions strengthen the structures used to identify and nurture talent from grassroots level.
The government is also looking beyond Afcon 2027, with the visit seeking to establish longer-term cooperation that could contribute to the development of Tanzania’s football industry.
For Tanzania, the key challenge will be translating the discussions into practical programmes that benefit players, coaches and football institutions, rather than limiting cooperation to high-level engagements.
During the visit, Mr Laporta also conveyed condolences to President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the death of her husband, Mzee Hafidh Ameir Hassan, on September 7, 2026.
Mr Makonda’s four-day visit continues in Spain as Tanzania seeks strategic partnerships that could help raise the standard of football development and widen opportunities for the country’s young talent.