Bayern Munich link up with Visit Rwanda for five years to help promote tourism

FC Bayern and Visit Rwanda

German football giant Bayern Munich announced a five-year partnership with Visit Rwanda to promote tourism and help develop the country’s football sector.

Bayern Munich will do this by working closely with Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports to set up a football academy to strengthen the development of football in the country.

Also through this partnership, Visit Rwanda branding will be displayed on matchday LED boards at Allianz Arena, one of the world’s most modern and advanced stadiums that holds 75,000 fans.

Visit Rwanda is a brand that provides a platform for Rwanda to showcase its tourism attractions, cultural heritage, and investment opportunities to the whole world.

They have recent history in the world of football, signing with Arsenal FC as a sleeve sponsor in 2018 and then followed suit in 2019 when they partnered with PSG as a premium partner and training kit sponsor for the club. These deals are still ongoing with both clubs and Rwanda President Paul Kagame stated that they have very healthy relationships with each club as well as tourism revenue success from their involvement in football.

Andreas Jung, FC Bayern Executive Board Member Marketing, mentioned the goal with football development in Rwanda in a club press release.

“I am looking forward to this new, very exciting collaboration. We will support the Rwandan Ministry of Sports in developing youth football programs, including our FC Bayern Youth Cup. We want to spread ‘Visit Rwanda’ as a tourism destination, and we also welcome the new partner to our business network,” he said.

Jan-Christian Dreesen, FC Bayern Chief Executive Officer, added:

“I am very pleased with this collaboration agreed upon until the summer of 2028. FC Bayern can become active on the African continent and gather important experiences,” he mentioned.

“The new platinum partnership is aligned with long-term goals. We will promote ‘Visit Rwanda’ and help Rwanda grow in sports with projects for youth football. These are challenging and responsible tasks. Africa is a continent of opportunities. For FC Bayern, this is the next important step in internationalisation.”

There is a clear goal from Bayern Munich to expand globally into Africa and cement themselves as a world footballing powerhouse with a strong brand identity.

Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, Rwanda Minister of Sports, said in a joint media release:

“We’re thrilled to partner with FC Bayern to support the development of youth football for boys and girls in Rwanda,” she said.

“We look forward to setting up the FC Bayern Academy where their expert coaches will share knowledge of the game with local coaches and players. The potential is there for Rwandans to excel in football and this partnership provides a great platform for Rwanda to strive for excellence in sports.”

Clare Akamanzi, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, discussed the already strong relationship between the two countries.

“The Rwanda Development Board is pleased to welcome yet another strategic partner in FC Bayern Munich. It’s been five outstanding years since the Government of Rwanda announced the Visit Rwanda campaign and adding FC Bayern as another additional partner allows us to reach out to its millions of fans across the globe and tell them to visit Rwanda,” she stated via media release.

“Germany is among Rwanda’s top five tourism source markets and we aim to use this partnership to attract more tourists to Rwanda, showcase investment and business opportunities and encourage all to stay in Rwanda.”

This partnership is a good fit for both parties, allowing Bayern Munich to expand into an untapped African market for German football clubs as well as help Rwanda generate further revenue for tourism and improve their football team which is a key goal for President Paul Kagame.

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UEFA and Unilever renew partnership

UEFA has embraced Unilever as an Official Global Partner of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, kicking off in Switzerland on July 2 until July 27, 2025.

Unilever’s deal with UEFA builds off of their 2024 partnership and will see a wide array of Unilever’s Foods and Personal Care brands ignite their own integrated advertising campaigns to connect with fans and consumers in and out of the stadium, including household names like Dove, Rexona, Knorr and Hellmann’s.

UEFA marketing director, Guy-Laurent Epstein expressed UEFA’s excitement to work with Unilever again.

“Building on the success of our collaboration last summer, we are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Unilever for UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said in a press release.

The support and interest in women’s football is on a sharp upward trajectory, and with Unilever’s portfolio of Food and Personal Care brands reaching billions of people every day, we look forward to celebrating the power of the game and bringing excitement to fans everywhere.”

General Manager of Unilever Foods Europe, Robbert de Vreede conveyed his enthusiasm for Unilever’s involvement in the upcoming Women’s EURO 2025.

“We are thrilled to partner with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, enabling our Foods brands to connect with a large audience who come together enjoying the thrill of a football match with friends whilst sharing delicious foods,” he said in a UEFA press release.

“Just as a great BBQ brings people closer, football unites fans in a shared experience of passion and camaraderie. In this partnership we will create memorable moments that highlight the best of summer – good food, great company, and beautiful games.”

General Manager of Unilever Personal Care Europe, Fulvio Guarneri detailed why the collaboration between UEFA and Unilever was a perfect fit.

“This is an exciting opportunity for some of our biggest brands to tap into a big cultural moment and connect with millions of consumers who will be watching the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025,” he said via press release.

“It’s a great time for women’s football and this partnership fits perfectly with our Personal Care products which are all about feeling clean and confident, and taking part in sports. Together with our retail partners, we look forward to building on the success of last year’s men’s tournament, delivering unmissable campaigns across a variety of channels that celebrate the power of women’s football.”

Unilever joins an exciting list of brands for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 tournament, including household names such as adidas, Amazon, AXA, Booking.com, EA, Euronics, Grifols, Heineken, Hublot, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Lay’s, Lidl, PlayStation and Visa.

The Club Development Conference highlights community football

Significant Sporting Events Program 2023-24

On Saturday, February 1st, over 200 attendees came together at Valentine Sports Park for the 2025 Football NSW Club Development Conference.

With registrations for the 2025 season still coming in, over 85 Football NSW clubs from both Sydney Metropolitan and regional areas gathered for a dynamic day of workshops, panels, and special guest speakers, celebrating community football.

Presented by Stephanie Brantz, the Conference included keynote addresses from Karen Jones, Acting CEO of Destination NSW and Chief Executive of the NSW Office of Sport, Dr. Catriona Rose of the Australian Sports Commission, and Matildas cap #167, Ellie Brush.

After the successful second edition of the conference, Trevor Huxley, Football NSW’s Program Manager for Club Development, expressed his excitement over the strong support from the community.

“The Club Development Conference is a fantastic opportunity to bring together all levels of the game to learn from one another, network and discuss best practice for grassroots football,” said Huxley via press release.

“It has been inspiring to see grassroots clubs across the state in attendance, illustrating a remarkable commitment to supporting their local communities. It’s vital that Football NSW continues to lead in this space, providing support to the volunteers and local administrators who are central to the ongoing growth of our game.”

Along with the keynote speakers, attendees were able to choose sessions tailored to their Club or role, covering topics such as safeguarding, volunteerism, marketing and data analysis, infrastructure and grant funding, player and spectator behaviour, women & girls’ football, diversity and inclusion, and grassroots coach education.

The Football NSW Club Development Conference serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing community football by Empowering Clubs, Facilitating Networking, Offering Targeted Education and Showcasing Leadership.

By focusing on these areas, the conference plays a crucial role in strengthening community football, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring the sport’s sustainable growth.

To gain further details and access Club resources, click here.

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