The FIFA President has welcomed his counterpart from the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF) to FIFA’s office in Paris, and held constructive discussions on a wide range of football development topics. Gianni Infantino hosted President Adilet Barmenkulov, who was elected in February 2022, as the head of a three-person delegation. Mr Infantino was presented with an update on the KFF’s new strategy and vision for football development – supported by the FIFA Forward Programme – in Kazakhstan. The proposals included widespread construction of football pitches – indoor and outdoor – across the country.

Also among the football development projects the FIFA President received updates on was the construction of a new training base for the KFF, and the development of an online resource for football players in Kazakhstan to locate facilities near them. Speaking after the meeting, President Barmenkulov said: “Today, we had a wonderful meeting which was essential for us. I would like to say that we came for the emotions, for that very powerful, strong energy that the President has.

“Of course, regarding our matters as part of the strategy that we are planning to implement, we discussed a number of issues today, but the main topic was specifically the organisation of children's and youth football in our country. We considered the necessary solutions regarding infrastructure and a necessary, large-scale programme to improve the skills of those who govern our football.” Also among the delegation for the discussions at FIFA’s offices in Paris, were KFF General Secretary Olzhas Abrayev and Assemgul Mussabekova, Head of the KFF’s President’s Office.