FIFA President Gianni Infantino will be attending a series of Malta FA 125th anniversary events during a visit to the Maltese Islands next week.
President Infantino, together with a number of FIFA officials, as well as Italian football legends Fabio Cannavaro and Christian Vieri, will be present for the launch of Malta’s first-ever FIFA Arena pitch in St. Paul’s Bay and the inauguration of the National Football Centre in Ta’ Qali.
Additionally, there will also be a UEFA delegation led by Jesper Møller, Vice President of UEFA and Chairman of the Danish Football Association.
FIFA ARENA INAUGURATION
On Monday morning, the Malta FA will be inaugurating a new mini-football pitch that will be installed at Maria Regina College Primary School in St Paul’s Bay as part of the FIFA Arena project.
The FIFA Arena project is a global FIFA initiative launched by FIFA President Infantino with the aim of building 1,000 mini-football pitches in different communities worldwide. It seeks to provide safe, inclusive spaces for children to play, learn, and grow, while also promoting football development and education.
Maria Regina College St Paul’s Bay Primary was chosen as the locality for Malta’s first-ever FIFA Arena due to the diversity present at the school, with a population of around 700 children from around 51 varied nationalities.
The event will see the launch of the new pitch, including a short match between children to give them the opportunity to enjoy the new facilities for the first time.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CENTRE LAUNCH
Later that evening, the Malta FA will also be holding a special event at the soon-to-be-opened National Football Centre in Ta’ Qali, where the facilities will be inaugurated by a number of high-profile guests and officials.
The National Football Centre is a newly constructed centre that will offer several facilities, including a Category 1 Stadium compliant with UEFA requirements, a medical and sports science area, a relaxation zone for players, an administrative area, conference facilities, and more.
The Malta FA Technical Centre’s operations and all logistics of the national teams will be relocated to the new building during the final quarter of the year, with the facilities being fully equipped to serve as the hub for the work of the technical sector.
During the event, Malta FA President Bjorn Vassallo, Hon. Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and UEFA Vice President Jesper Møller will be inaugurating the new facilities.
In addition to this, there will also be a dedicated event being held at the National Football Centre to mark the 125th anniversary of the Malta FA. This will include speeches, gift exchanges, as well as a Q&A session with Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, a key figure in Maltese youth football, particularly for founding the Youth FA.
