Global support for FIFA and Gianni Infantino remains strong

Global support for FIFA and Gianni Infantino remains strong Not every football association is born with a silver spoon in its mouth. Yet right now, a wave of optimism is sweeping through the grassroots of world football: major youth development projects are taking shape in every corner of the planet. Look closely, and the message is clear: when smaller nations finally get a hearing and receive the right support, they far exceed expectations. Dust rises from the construction site in Hövsan, on the outskirts of Baku, but the outlines of the future are already clear. An enormous football complex with ten new pitches is taking shape. As FIFA President Gianni Infantino visits the site alongside Rovshan Najaf, President of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), the discussion is not about abstract sports policy, but tangible realities. The facility is central to preparations for the first FIFA U-15 World Cup Festival. Here, the foundations for the next generation are quite literally being laid. A change of scene: Riga. Construction and inaugurations are also under way in the Latvian capital. Five years after his last visit, Infantino stands before the Latvian Football Federation’s (LFF) new headquarters, a state-of-the-art building in the city centre, built with funding from the FIFA Forward programme. For LFF President Vadims Ļašenko, it is far more than just an office complex: "This is an important milestone for our football family," he explains with evident pride. "We finally have a home where our team is happy to come to work. It is a dream come true." In subsequent talks with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, attention quickly turned to the next major project: a fully fledged, multifunctional national stadium for the Baltic country. Another example of this newfound optimism emerged this week in Mongolia. In a country where winter temperatures plunge to minus 45 degrees, playing football all year round is a logistical challenge. Yet these dreams are becoming reality. During a visit to the capital, Ulaanbaatar, by a FIFA delegation led by President Gianni Infantino, the delegation not only inspected an "Air Dome" designed to withstand the weather and allow 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 follow," said AFC Vice-President Ganbaatar Gabi Amgalanbaatar. For the thousands of schoolchildren who also received football boots, it was a true day of celebration. "The children and young people were thrilled. They welcomed Gianni like one of the world’s biggest stars. Everyone wanted an autograph," says Mongolian Football Federation (MFF) President Anandbazar Tsogt-Ochir with pride. The president particularly appreciates the fact that FIFA’s leader came in person to inaugurate the pitch: "Development must reach people exactly where it is needed. Gianni’s policy of developing grassroots football in these places is absolutely right." All these projects illustrate a pattern that is all too often overlooked globally. For smaller associations, FIFA’s development funds are the lifeblood that keeps the football machine running. Whether it is investment in Mongolia or meticulous inspections of facilities in Tashkent—where Uzbekistan and Sports Minister Adham Ikramov are preparing intensively for the 2027 U-20 World Cup—these associations have long regarded FIFA as their most reliable source of support. Another example is the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival, scheduled to take place in Baku from 22 to 30 October this year. This innovative new tournament was designed to bring together around 190 member associations in an unprecedented celebration of youth football development. "From our perspective, it is fundamentally important to recognise that football truly is for everyone, everywhere in the world," Infantino stressed during his visit to Latvia. "There are big countries and small countries, rich countries and poor countries. For us at FIFA, it is important to give nations like Latvia the resources and opportunities they need to be part of the global football community." When Uzbek, Azerbaijani or Latvian youth national teams face South American or African teams in future tournaments, it will not be "just about football, but also about a human perspective," Infantino explained. The facilities built with FIFA’s help are intended to create spaces "where communities meet, parents come together and social life develops." The strong backing of local officials shows that this pragmatic approach is delivering results on the ground. Rovshan Najaf, President of Azerbaijan’s AFFA, perfectly sums up the position of the Eurasian associations: "Gianni Infantino has done a tremendous amount for football development and continues to promote the sport around the world. He has our full support for his future initiatives." LFF President Ļašenko also leaves no doubt about his association’s support: "Gianni Infantino is pursuing so many initiatives that it would be impossible to list them all in a minute. He can always count on our support." The message from emerging football nations is unmistakable: over the past ten years, FIFA’s ongoing support and its president’s commitment have allowed them not only to keep football alive, but also to achieve visible growth. They now want to continue building together on these solid foundations. Step by step. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.