Tanzania sports minister begins Barcelona visit to discuss AFCON 2027 collaboration

Tanzania’s Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda, has begun a four-day visit to FC Barcelona as the East African nation seeks to strengthen its football development plans ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Makonda is visiting the Spanish champions at the invitation of Barcelona president Joan Laporta, with discussions expected to focus on long-term collaboration between the club and Tanzanian football authorities.

The visit comes as Tanzania intensifies preparations for AFCON 2027, which it will co-host with Kenya and Uganda, marking the first time the three East African nations will stage the continent’s biggest football tournament together.

During the four-day programme, Makonda is expected to explore areas including youth talent development, technical advancement, national team management and knowledge-sharing on football administration.

The discussions are also expected to examine how Barcelona’s renowned football structure – from its academy system to elite team operations – could help support Tanzania’s efforts to strengthen its domestic football ecosystem.

Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy has produced some of football’s biggest names, including Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, making the club one of the world’s leading references for player development.

Makonda is also scheduled to attend Barcelona’s La Liga match against Racing Santander at Camp Nou on 16 September alongside Laporta, providing an opportunity to observe the club’s matchday operations and stadium management.

The visit forms part of Tanzania’s broader push to improve its football infrastructure and technical capacity before welcoming Africa’s top national teams in 2027.

With less than a year before the tournament, the country has increasingly sought international partnerships as it works to enhance coaching standards, player pathways and organisational expertise ahead of one of the most significant sporting events in its history.