When John Livingston Muhire, the FERWAFA Club Licensing Manager, stepped into FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, he walked into a world where football is crafted with precision, passion, and purpose. For nearly three months, he worked within the Licensing & Retail Department, witnessing firsthand how the FIFA World Cup 2026 is shaped behind the scenes.

Each day became a page in his learning journey, new skills in licensing, insights in brand management, and the wider view of global football operations unfolding before him.

Reflecting on his experience, Livingston shared:

“This experience opened my eyes to global football operations and taught me valuable skills in licensing, brand management, and commercial development.”

Now, he returns home with a vision lit brighter:

to establish a national licensing program that elevates standards,

and to launch the Rwanda Football Heritage & Research Center, a place where stories, memories, and football identity can live and inspire.

Both dreams are designed to grow the game, preserve our history, create opportunities, and deepen the bond with fans.

Muhire was among other 22 candidates across the world, selected for the first edition of this internship program 2025, second cohort that took place between September and November 2025.

This journey is one of the many capacity-building paths opened through FIFA, and FERWAFA stands proud, its staff rising, learning, and shaping the future of football professionalism in Rwanda and beyond.