Infantino commissions Haslington FIFA Arena, calls facility ‘where dreams are made’

Nov 06, 2026 Sports

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…FIFA President envisions mini pitches across all 10 administrative regions 

By Rawle Toney

(Kaieteur News) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described the newly commissioned FIFA Arena Mini Pitch at Haslington, East Coast Demerara, as a place “where dreams are made”, as he underscored football’s power to transform communities and create opportunities for young people.

Infantino officially commissioned the facility yesterday during his second visit to Guyana, marking another significant milestone in the country’s football development programme and FIFA’s commitment to expanding access to the sport at the grassroots level.

Addressing a gathering that included Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr., Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde, government officials and football stakeholders, Infantino expressed optimism about the future of the initiative, revealing his ambition to see similar facilities established across all 10 administrative regions of Guyana.

The Haslington facility, alongside another FIFA Arena Mini Pitch in Linden, represents the first phase of that vision.

Infantino emphasised that the importance of the facilities extends beyond their physical structures, describing them as spaces where football and communities intersect.

He cautioned against taking the mini pitches for granted, noting that their true value lies in the opportunities they provide for young people to participate in football, develop their abilities and pursue their ambitions.

The FIFA President’s visit also carries historical significance, as he becomes only the third FIFA president to visit Guyana, following Sepp Blatter in 2001 and João Havelange in 1976.

His latest visit comes nine years after his first trip to Guyana in 2017, when he participated in the ceremonial turning of the sod for what has since developed into the GFF’s National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

That project marked an important chapter in the country’s football infrastructure development, and his return to commission the Haslington facility reflects the continued expansion of FIFA-supported investment in Guyana.

The FIFA Arena initiative was first announced following Infantino’s pledge at the International Summit on Sports for Sustainable Development in Paris in July 2024. It was subsequently officially launched at FIFA’s 75th Congress in Asunción, Paraguay, in May 2025.

The programme is designed to expand access to safe, quality football facilities, particularly in communities where suitable playing environments are limited.

Guyana’s two facilities, manufactured by Netherlands-based Edel Grass BV, each represent an investment of approximately US$98,000 (G$21 million), excluding associated local construction costs.

Beyond providing accessible playing spaces, the mini pitches are expected to significantly increase opportunities for organised and structured football activities, giving young players appropriate environments to improve their technical abilities while allowing coaches to identify, monitor and nurture promising talent from an early age.

The Linden facility is also expected to play a particularly important role in the development of women’s football, serving as a central training base for the GFF’s Blue Water Shipping Girls Academy.

Its availability is expected to strengthen the academy’s developmental programme by providing young female footballers with a dedicated environment to train, improve and progress through the national football structure.

The two installations form an important component of the GFF’s broader, FIFA-backed infrastructure development strategy, which seeks to strengthen the foundations of the game through improved facilities and expanded opportunities for grassroots participation.

Meanwhile, Infantino also used the occasion to highlight FIFA’s proposed increase in development funding for its 2027–2030 cycle, outlining plans for an additional US$3.4 billion in investment that would bring the organisation’s planned spending on football development to approximately US$6.35 billion.

Under the proposed distribution framework, each of FIFA’s 211 member associations, including the GFF, would receive US$25 million over the four-year cycle.

Additionally, each of the six continental confederations would be allocated US$99 million, while each of the 13 zonal and regional associations would receive US$8.25 million.

The proposed funding represents a significant opportunity for member associations to strengthen their football development programmes, improve infrastructure and expand support for players, coaches and administrators.

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• FIFA, FIFA Arena Mini Pitch, Gianni Infantino, Haslington

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