FIFA President joins Saint Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) President Atiba Harris to inaugurate first two mini-pitches in dual-island nation
FIFA Arena project reinforces SKNFA’s comprehensiveyouth development strategy that features its FIFA Forward-funded Technical Centre and the FIFA Talent Development Scheme
Gianni Infantino: “The FIFA Arena in Saint Kitts will support grassroots participation and have a meaningful and lasting impact on football development.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has inaugurated the first FIFA Arena mini-pitches in Saint Kitts and Nevis in a further major boost to the game’s development in the dual-island nation.
Mr Infantino was joined by Saint Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) President and former national team captain Atiba Harris to officially launch the project in one of FIFA’s smallest Member Associations (MA) and to continue building towards FIFA Arena’s ultimate goal of establishing at least 1,000 mini-pitches globally by 2031.
“It was great to be in Saint Kitts and Nevis amongst talented youngsters and fantastic people as we inaugurated one of two FIFA Arena mini-pitches,” said Mr Infantino. “Many thanks to the team at Saint Kitts and Nevis Football Association, its President Atiba Harris, Minister Konris Maynard, the government, and everyone associated with this meaningful project. It was also fantastic to have the support of Cuban Football Association President Oliet Rodriguez, who attended this event.”
The FIFA Arena project fits snugly into the youth development-centric strategy implemented by Mr Harris since his election five years ago and will provide even more opportunities for local schoolchildren to practice the skills they have acquired through the FIFA Football for Schools initiative, launched in April 2024.
“These pitches will provide children with a football dream the access to play and pursue the game they love in a safe and secure environment,” Mr Infantino said. “FIFA is proud to support such beautiful projects that give opportunities to young girls and boys in every corner of the globe.”
The SKNFA Technical Centre opened in 2022 after USD 3 million in FIFA Forward funding supported its construction – one of 13 FIFA Forward projects within the MA – and its work has been super-charged in the last two years by the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS).
Since 2024, the TDS programme has focused on strengthening Talent ID and player development to support a direct pathway into the SKNFA National Academy , an important resource as the SKNFA looks to raise standards across all categories and ensure the men’s senior national team’s Concacaf Gold Cup debut in 2023 does not remain an isolated on-pitch achievement for too long.