FIFA President Urges Kyrgyzstan to Build National Football Stadium
Key Highlights :
Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic located in the mountains of Central Asia, has been urged by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to build a national football stadium to host international games and address the lack of infrastructure. On the day of Infantino's visit, the mountainous nation of 7 million inaugurated the new, FIFA-sponsored headquarters of the Kyrgyz Football Union which has previously resided in an old, small building on the outskirts of the capital, Bishkek.
The lack of modern stadiums built to international standards that can host FIFA-level matches has hindered the development of the national team, which currently stands at 96th in the FIFA rankings. Infantino spoke with President Sadyr Japarov about the need for a national stadium, citing its importance for the development of the sport. “It is very important, symbolic, but crucial for the development, so, we will bring more international games to Kyrgyzstan, and you will shine on the Asian stage and on the global stage,” he said.
Japarov acknowledged the popularity of football in Kyrgyzstan and the country's ambitious goals for the sport. He highlighted the success of the men's football team, which qualified for the Asian Cup in 2019. To further promote the development of football in Kyrgyzstan, FIFA has deployed a talent development team and is investing in a football academy, as well as programmes to promote the sport at schools and among women.
The proposed national stadium in Kyrgyzstan would provide an essential platform for the country to develop football further and compete on the international stage. With the help of FIFA, the nation could soon find itself in a position to host international games and shine on the global stage.
