Strong global support remains for FIFA and Gianni Infantino

Strong global support remains for FIFA and Gianni Infantino Not every football association is born with a silver spoon in its mouth. Yet, a wave of optimism is currently sweeping through the grassroots of the global football family: fantastic youth development projects are springing up all over the world. A closer look reveals a clear truth: when smaller nations are finally heard and given the right backing, they punch well above their weight. Dust blows across the construction site in the Azerbaijani settlement of Hövsan on the outskirts of Baku. Yet, the outlines of the future are already clearly visible. A massive football complex boasting ten new pitches is taking shape. As FIFA President Gianni Infantino walks the grounds alongside Rovshan Najaf, President of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), they aren't discussing abstract sports politics. They are talking about tangible realities. The facility is the centerpiece of preparations for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup Festival. Here, the foundation for the next generation is literally being laid. Scene change to Riga. Building and unveiling are also underway in the Latvian capital. Five years after his last visit, Infantino stands in front of the new headquarters of the Latvian Football Federation (LFF)—a state-of-the-art downtown facility made possible by FIFA Forward funding. For LFF President Vadims Ļašenko, it’s much more than just an office block: "This is an important milestone for our football family," Ļašenko explains with visible pride. "We finally have a home that our team loves coming to work at. A dream has come true." Subsequent talks with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs focused straight on the next major project: a proper, multi-purpose national stadium for the Baltic nation. Another example of this new optimism could be witnessed this week in Mongolia. In a country where fierce winter temperatures plummet to minus 45 degrees Celsius, playing football year-round is a logistical masterclass. But these very dreams are now becoming a reality. During a visit by a FIFA delegation led by President Gianni Infantino to the capital, Ulaanbaatar, they not only inspected a climate-resilient "Air Dome" allowing children to train year-round but also inaugurated a brand-new FIFA Arena mini-pitch at a local school.  "FIFA’s assistance, commitment and management support have helped Mongolian football, our country and our young people. I am very happy about that. In other words, wherever the ball goes, FIFA’s policies reach there too”. said Ganbaatar Gabi Amgalanbaatar, Vice President of the AFC.  For the thousands of schoolchildren who also received football boots, it was an absolute festival. "The children and young people were thrilled. They welcomed Gianni like one of the biggest global superstars. Everyone wanted an autograph," reports Anandbazar Tsogt-Ochir, President of the Mongolian Football Federation (MFF), full of pride. He highly respects that the FIFA President traveled personally to open the pitch: "Development must reach people where it is needed. Gianni’s policy of developing football’s foundations in exactly these places is absolutely right." All these projects illustrate a pattern all too often overlooked on the global stage. For smaller member associations, FIFA's development funding is the absolute lifeblood that keeps the footballing machinery running. Whether it’s investments in Mongolia or meticulous stadium inspections in Tashkent – where Uzbekistan and Sports Minister Adham Ikramov are intensively preparing for the 2027 U-20 World Cup - these federations have long viewed FIFA as their most reliable source of support. Another example is the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival, which is hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, from October 22 to October 30 this year. The innovative new tournament is designed to bring together approximately 190 FIFA Member Associations in an unprecedented celebration of youth football development. "From our point of view, it is enormously important to acknowledge that football is truly for everyone, everywhere in the world," Infantino emphasized during his visit to Latvia. "There are big and small countries, rich and poor. For us at FIFA, it is important to provide countries like Latvia with the resources and opportunities to be part of the global football community." When Uzbek, Azerbaijani, or Latvian youth teams face off against sides from South America or Africa in future tournaments, it is "not just about football, but also about the human perspective," Infantino explained. The facilities built with FIFA's help are designed to create spaces "where communities meet, parents come together, and social life happens." That this hands-on approach is bearing fruit on the ground is shown by the massive backing from local officials. Rovshan Najaf, President of the Azerbaijani association AFFA, perfectly sums up the stance of Eurasian federations: "Gianni Infantino has done an enormous amount for the development of football and continues to promote the game worldwide. He has our full support for his future initiatives." LFF President Ļašenko leaves no doubt about his federation's loyalty either: "Gianni Infantino pushes forward so many things that you couldn't possibly list them all in a minute. He can always count on our support." The message from these emerging football nations is unequivocal: over the past decade, continuous FIFA support and the President's backing have allowed them not only to sustain the sport but to visibly expand it. They now want to continue building together on this strong foundation. Pitch by pitch.