The announcement was made in a press release issued by Rwanda's football federation, FERWAFA, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. FERWAFA conducted an Executive Committee meeting to deliberate on significant reforms for the upcoming football seasons, specifically targeting governance and progress in the Rwanda Premier League 2025/2026 season.
Foreign Player Rules Updated: From the 2025/2026 season, matchday squads will be restricted to a maximum of eight foreign players, and only these selected players will be allowed to take part in the game. This change is expected to usher in fair play and balanced competition in the league.
Increased Registration Fees for Foreign Players: FERWAFA has introduced an updated fee structure for foreign players. Starting January 2026, a Rwandan team must pay 2 million Rwandan Francs (Frw) to register a foreign player. This fee underlines FERWAFA's drive toward transparent and financially sustainable player management.
Previously, regulations allowed teams to field six foreign players during matches with up to 10 inclusions in the matchday squad list, making this new limitation a strategic step toward inclusiveness and enhancing opportunities for local talent.
Focus on Youth Development: To encourage youth participation, FERWAFA has mandated that starting from the 2026/2027 season, every team must feature three Rwandan players under the age of 21 in their matchday squad. This decision aims to nurture young, homegrown talent and strengthen Rwanda’s football pipeline.
Ticketing Shifts: The responsibility of managing ticket sales for Rwanda Premier League matches has been handed over to league management, Rwanda Premier League. FERWAFA will closely collaborate with the league in determining methods to fairly allocate ticket revenue between stakeholders, ensuring transparency.
FERWAFA Press Release