FIFA Boosts Liberia’s Football with Mini-Pitches and State-of-the-Art Turf Project

Ganta, Nimba – Liberia’s football infrastructure is receiving a major upgrade through a fully-funded FIFA project aimed at transforming Gompa Stadium and enhancing access to quality playing surfaces for children across the country.

As part of the FIFA Forward Program, a $750,000 investment is being used to install a FIFA-standard artificial turf at Gompa Stadium, along with modern drainage and irrigation systems, powerful floodlights, and upgraded stands. The improvements aim to make the venue a reliable, all-weather facility for matches and training.

The upgraded stadium will serve Liberia’s men’s, women’s, and youth national teams and will also be open to school leagues, grassroots festivals, and year-round community football activities.

In addition to its sporting benefits, the project is expected to stimulate the local economy by creating jobs during construction and attracting more matches, tournaments, and visitors. Officials say the improvements could help position Liberia as a contender to host regional and international football events.

The initiative is part of FIFA Forward, the world’s largest sports development program, launched in 2016 under FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The program aims to redistribute FIFA’s revenues equally among its 211 member associations (MAs). By 2026, FIFA expects to invest a record-breaking $5 billion globally in football development.

In a related development, FIFA also inaugurated two new mini-pitches in Liberia, located in schools in Margibi and Montserrado counties. More than 3,000 children are expected to directly benefit from the new artificial surfaces, which are part of the broader FIFA Arena initiative.

“I’m thrilled to see the youth of Liberia inaugurate these FIFA Arena mini-pitches today. These brand-new, sustainable spaces offer children from Margibi and Montserrado counties a safe and inspiring environment to play and grow through football,” said Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer and Regional Director for Africa.

“Liberia holds a special place in the global football community, thanks to the legendary Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, who put the nation on the world map. I’m confident that among the young players here today, some will follow in his remarkable footsteps. These pitches are more than just playing surfaces, they are platforms for dreams to take flight. On behalf of FIFA, I wish every young Liberian success on and off the pitch. We stand proudly alongside the Liberia Football Association to create even more opportunities for the future,” Fernandes added.

The FIFA Arena project aims to install at least 1,000 new mini-pitches globally by 2031, as pledged by FIFA President Infantino during the Sustainable Sports Summit in Paris in July 2024. The initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by increasing access to safe sports facilities for children, particularly in disadvantaged urban and rural areas.

Georgia was the first FIFA member association to install and open the new pitches. In Africa, Algeria led the way, installing two mini-pitches in its capital city, benefiting more than 1,500 children. Liberia is the second African country to benefit from the initiative.

The inauguration ceremony in Liberia was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Gelson Fernandes of FIFA, Liberia’s Minister of Youth and Sports Jeror Cole Bangalu, Minister of National Defense (Rtd.) Geraldine Janet George, and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Davidson Fayiah Forleh.

The FIFA Arena and Gompa Stadium upgrades are part of ongoing efforts to develop football at all levels in Liberia, giving new generations of players the facilities and opportunities to thrive.