๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ต๐๐ด๐ฒ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐, ๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐
TIL BDR GHALLEY | Thimphu
Bhutanโs football development is set for a major financial boost, with FIFA committing USD 25 million over the next four years, a substantial increase in funding aimed at strengthening the national team, expanding grassroots participation and creating more opportunities for young players.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the commitment at a press conference held on 19 October, highlighting the increase from the USD 1 million allocated every four years when he first took office as FIFA president.
โWhen I started as FIFA president, it was one million every four years. Now itโs USD 25 M every four years. This is a big change, and this will impact all these children that we have seen out there in a real way because it gives them opportunities, hope, chances and possibility to dream,โ said Gianni Infantino.
The funding is expected to support the Bhutan Football Federationโs (BFF) efforts to develop football infrastructure, strengthen youth and womenโs football, improve coaching and expand grassroots programmes.
For the federation, the increased support comes as it seeks to build on existing development initiatives and improve the standard of football in the country, including the quality of the national team and the development of young talent.
BFF President Ugyen Tsechup said the federation had made significant progress with FIFAโs support now we have reached almost plateau. He said the BFF had proposed initiatives to take development to the next level, improve the quality of the national team and strengthen the way both the national team and grassroots programmes are developed.
One of the proposals under consideration is the establishment of a football academy in Bhutan for 500 young players, comprising 250 boys and 250 girls. The proposed academy would include schooling facilities and four football pitches, combining formal education with structured football training.
Gianni Infantino said FIFA would assess the proposal and send experts to Bhutan to examine its feasibility. The academy has not yet been confirmed, and its establishment will depend on the outcome of that assessment.
If established, the academy could provide young players with a more structured pathway to develop their skills while continuing their education. The proposed inclusion of equal numbers of boys and girls would also create opportunities to strengthen the development of both menโs and womenโs football.
Gianni Infantino also attended the opening of a grassroots programme involving children below the age of 12, highlighting the importance of introducing young players to football at an early age.
FIFA plans to help identify and train young talent, strengthen coaching capacity and expand infrastructure and competitions. These efforts are intended to support football development from the grassroots level through to higher levels of competition.
Womenโs football was another focus of Infantinoโs remarks. He expressed confidence in the potential of Bhutanese women players, saying, โI think women in Bhutan will become world champions in football before men, probably.โ
The increased investment could help create more opportunities for girls to participate in organised football and access structured training. Sustained progress, however, will also depend on coaching capacity, suitable facilities and regular competitive opportunities for players to advance.
FIFA is also exploring the possibility of introducing a regional competition tentatively called the FIFA Himalaya Cup. Details of the proposed tournament have not yet been established, and the competition remains under consideration.
If it proceeds, the tournament could offer another platform for regional competition and give Bhutanese players opportunities to compete against teams from neighbouring countries.
The USD 25 million commitment marks a substantial increase from the level of funding Infantino said was available every four years when he first became FIFA president. For the BFF, the expanded support offers an opportunity to pursue larger development initiatives while continuing to build participation and strengthen the foundations of football in Bhutan.
The impact of the investment will depend on how the funding is allocated and implemented, and whether proposed initiatives such as the national football academy and the regional competition move forward.
FIFA President Gianni Infantinoโs two-day visit to Bhutan has opened the door to greater financial support for the countryโs football development, with FIFA committing USD 25 million over the next four years. During his visit, Infantino had an audience with His Majesty The King and His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, as well as Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and BFF President Ugen Tsechup. He also met young Bhutanese players participating in football development programmes supported by FIFA.
