The match was played on the night of April 29, 2026, at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain. The visit was confirmed the following day by Village Urugwiro, the Office of the President, through its official communication channels.

During the visit, President Kagame was received by Atlético Madrid’s president, Enrique Cerezo, reflecting the strong ties between Rwanda and the Spanish club.

Both teams share partnerships with Rwanda through the “Visit Rwanda” initiative, a program aimed at promoting the country’s tourism and cultural heritage on the global stage.

Atlético Madrid has been collaborating with Rwanda since 2025 under a partnership running until 2028, which includes branding at the stadium and training kits, as well as technical support such as coaching programs for Rwandan football development.

Similarly, Arsenal has maintained a long-standing partnership with Rwanda for over eight years, featuring the “Visit Rwanda” brand on players’ sleeves and promoting the country at the Emirates Stadium. The club has also been involved in showcasing Rwanda’s tourism through visits by its players.

On the pitch, Arsenal took the lead just before halftime, with Viktor Gyökeres scoring from the penalty spot in the 44th minute after a foul by Atlético defender David Hancko. Atlético Madrid responded in the second half, equalizing in the 56th minute through Julián Álvarez, also from a penalty after a handball by Arsenal’s Ben White.

President Kagame’s presence at the match highlights Rwanda’s continued engagement with global sports platforms, particularly through strategic partnerships that promote the country internationally.