FIFA President Gianni Infantino has discussed an ambitious football development programme for Sri Lanka, including proposed support worth USD 25 million over the next four-year cycle and plans to expand sports infrastructure across the country.

The proposals were discussed during a meeting between FIFA President Infantino, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage and Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar.

The proposed FIFA funding is expected to support national and youth teams, women’s football, coaches and referees, with the aim of strengthening the country’s football development system, according to the Ministry of Sports.

A key component of the programme is the proposed construction of a state-of-the-art international football stadium in Sri Lanka, alongside initiatives to improve access to football facilities at the grassroots level, the Sports Ministry noted.

Plans are also in place to begin developing football grounds in every district from next year, while the FFSL aims to establish approximately 40 grounds across its member leagues by 2031.

The initiatives are intended to expand participation, improve training opportunities and strengthen the infrastructure needed to develop football talent throughout the country.

Meanwhile, FIFA is also expected to provide technical expertise and infrastructure assistance to support the Ministry of Sports in establishing a national high-performance centre in partnership with the FFSL.

The proposed centre is intended to strengthen athlete development, coaching and pathways for elite performers across all sports.
The initiative could provide a broader platform for improving sports training standards and supporting athletes seeking to compete at international level.

Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage also expressed the government’s appreciation for FIFA’s support and reaffirmed its commitment to working with FIFA and the FFSL to advance football development in Sri Lanka.