FIFA President Gianni Infantino has met with South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) President Augustino Maduot Parek around the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021™ to discuss a broad cross-section of projects that will boost football’s infrastructure across one of FIFA’s youngest member associations. 

Mr Infantino noted the significant commitment to develop women’s football in South Sudan in collaboration with the FIFA Women’s Football Division. The final of the domestic knockout competition in South Sudan will take place later in February before the focus shifts to schools’ football in March and the start of a league championship in April, all implemented with FIFA support.

A FIFA delegation led by Secretary General Fatma Samoura and Chief of Women’s Football Sarai Bareman visited South Sudan in September 2021 and at the latest meeting in Abu Dhabi, the FIFA President noted the progress since that visit of the redevelopment of Juba National Stadium. That project is being carried out with FIFA Forward funding support and is expected to be finished later this year. 

The SSFA also intends to develop artificial pitches across the member association to best facilitate playing opportunities for the greatest possible cross-section of society.