— Leaders explore world-class regional tournament, expanded infrastructure and greater opportunities for young footballers
GEORGETOWN, Guyana — President Dr. Irfaan Ali and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have committed to strengthening collaboration to accelerate football development in Guyana, with a focus on expanding youth opportunities, investing in infrastructure and positioning the country as a hub for major regional and international competitions.
The commitment was reinforced during high-level discussions between the two leaders on Thursday, as Infantino visited Guyana to advance FIFA’s partnership with the government and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).
Central to the discussions was an ambitious proposal to develop a world-class football tournament in Guyana that could attract international attention, generate broadcasting revenue and stimulate economic activity across the wider Caribbean.
President Ali said the initiative formed part of his government’s broader vision of transforming sport into a significant driver of economic growth, youth development and regional integration.
“We need to bring a tournament that is world class, high class, that commands the attention of the region, commands the attention of the Western Hemisphere, gets television rights and gets into the FIFA ecosystem,” Ali said.
The president proposed that Guyana and FIFA work toward identifying a suitable competition before the end of the year, with the possibility of launching an inaugural tournament in 2027.
He suggested that the competition could be developed over a three-year period before being expanded to other countries in the region.
“We know football as not only a game. We know there is economy around football, and if we do it right, the economy around football, around sports, can lead to massive economic and social gains in our society,” Ali said.
Infantino welcomed the proposal and pledged FIFA’s support for initiatives that would create more competitive opportunities for young players in Guyana and the wider region.
“Together, we will as well work with the football community to create new competitions, new events that are relevant for this part of the world,” the FIFA president said.
He stressed that football development required sustained investment in infrastructure, talent academies, grassroots programmes and competitions, particularly in smaller nations where opportunities have historically been limited.
“What is missing for a boy or a girl born in this part of the world to have more opportunities and chances to become one of the top players, what is missing is infrastructure and competitions, and we will invest together in both,” Infantino said.
The discussions followed the official commissioning earlier Thursday of Guyana’s first FIFA Arena mini-pitch at Haslington, East Coast Demerara.
The artificial-turf facility, inaugurated by Infantino, will serve as a hub for FIFA’s Football for Schools programme, providing young players with a safe and accessible environment for training and development.
A second FIFA-supported mini-pitch has been constructed at Retrieve, Linden, as part of the initial rollout of the initiative in Guyana. News Room Guyana +1
President Ali disclosed that FIFA had initially offered Guyana two pitches, but his administration proposed expanding the partnership to 10, with the government providing the necessary preparatory infrastructure.
“I’m happy that you have agreed, and we will have 10 of those pitches across the country,” Ali said.
Infantino welcomed the government’s commitment and suggested that the partnership could be expanded further through sponsorship and additional investment.
“Together we can find partners, sponsors to build even more than 10,” he said.
The FIFA president also identified Guyana’s strategic location between South America, the Caribbean, Central America and North America as a major advantage in developing the country into a regional football hub.
“What we can do here, we can show it to the world,” Infantino said, expressing confidence that the partnership among FIFA, the government and the GFF could become a model for other developing football nations.
Reflecting on his previous visit nearly a decade ago, Infantino praised Guyana’s transformation and President Ali’s development agenda.
“It’s a different country. It is a different country,” he said.
President Ali, meanwhile, highlighted the government’s substantial investment in sports infrastructure, including stadiums, training facilities and support for the national football federation.
He said the GFF had received unprecedented government support over the past four to five years, describing the investments as part of a long-term strategy to create economic and social opportunities through sport.
The president also praised Infantino’s leadership, particularly his commitment to ensuring smaller nations benefit from FIFA’s development programmes and have greater opportunities to compete internationally.
“You’re a legend of bridging the gap. You’re a legend of creating and enabling an equal environment for nations, clubs, and individuals,” Ali said.
Infantino reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to ensuring that football development reaches every country, regardless of its size or resources.
“Football is for everyone, everywhere, in every corner of the world, and we cannot just say this and not act in consequence,” he said.
He stressed that meaningful progress required investment in facilities, coaching, talent development and competitions capable of providing young footballers with pathways to the highest levels of the sport.
“Our mission: give hope, give opportunities, give dreams, but make sure that the dreams can come true,” Infantino said.
The visit marks another step in the growing partnership between Guyana and FIFA, with both sides seeking to translate infrastructure investment and grassroots development into greater international opportunities for Guyanese footballers and the wider Caribbean region.