FIFA President Infantino Promotes Global Football Growth

Gianni Infantino emphasizes FIFA’s commitment to global football investment during his visit to the Dominican Republic for youth tournaments.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently visited the Dominican Republic to promote investment in global football. His trip coincided with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-14 Challenge Series, where he met with regional leaders to discuss bridging the gap between major footballing nations and others.

During his stay, Infantino engaged in talks with CFU representatives, including President Lyndon Cooper and Concacaf President Victor Montagliani. He expressed optimism about the positive developments in football over the past decade but emphasized the need for continued progress.

Reflecting on the warm reception he received, Infantino noted, “I received a very, very warm welcome here in the Dominican Republic – beautiful, beautiful country…on the occasion of a meeting of the Caribbean Football Union, to discuss projects, ideas.” This dialogue, he argued, is essential for sharing opinions and strategies in the evolving landscape of global football.

Infantino stated that FIFA’s goal is to expand the sport to all 211 member countries, highlighting the importance of reducing disparities among nations. He remarked, “We need to narrow this gap between the big, big countries and all the others… we need to give a chance to all the others.”

With the support of the FIFA Forward programme, the CFU has been able to access vital resources, with up to $5 million available for each regional organization under the current funding cycle. Infantino praised this initiative, identifying it as a worthy investment for the future of football.

He elaborated on the past struggles of regional associations to secure funding necessary for organizing events for young players. “We had to find resources, and we had to find more and more resources because what they do in organizing these events for the children – this year is the U-14 here in the CFU, in the Caribbean – U-14 boys, next year, U-14 girl,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Infantino has ambitious plans for a new U-15 World Cup that is set to include all FIFA member nations, calling it a “festival of youth” with more than 4,000 children participating. This inaugural tournament is scheduled for this year and reflects FIFA’s broader objective of making football accessible in all corners of the globe.

To achieve these goals, Infantino underscored the necessity for ongoing funding from sponsors and broadcasters, promising that all funds generated will be reinvested entirely back into the game to facilitate continued growth.