World football governing body FIFA has pledged USD 25 million to transform Sri Lanka into a major football-playing nation over the next four years.
The landmark funding package was finalized during a high-level summit on 26 October in Baku, Azerbaijan, between FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Sri Lankan Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, and Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar.
Under the four-year development strategy, the financial commitment will target elite performance, grassroots expansion, women's football, and the professionalization of local referees and coaches.
A central pillar of the initiative includes establishing a National High-Performance Centre in partnership with the Ministry of Sports, designed to elevate training standards and athlete pathways across multiple disciplines.
Infrastructure upgrades form a massive component of the joint agenda, featuring plans for a modern international football stadium alongside community grounds in every district across the island starting next year.
Football Federation leadership also outlined long-term goals to upgrade roughly 40 member league grounds nationwide by 2031.
FIFA officials confirmed that technical expertise would accompany the capital outlay to ensure operational sustainability.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage reaffirmed Sri Lanka's full commitment to the collaborative effort, emphasizing the strategic importance of expanding sporting access to local communities.
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