President of the Republic of Costa Rica Rogrigo Chaves has lauded FIFA for the strides made to develop football in his Country Costa Rica and the World in particular.

Chaves was speaking when FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the Costa Rican Football Federation’s sports complex in Alajuela, where he held a series of meetings and cut the ribbon on a football pitch funded by FIFA’s Forward Programme.

“Gianni, I want to congratulate you on this U-20 Women’s World Cup, but I have also noticed that, as an outside observer of global trends, you are working towards – and as are you, Rodolfo – a form of football that is more inclusive of young people, of women, and of the different variants of the sport, such as beach soccer,” said Chaves.

“In addition, you have also restored the legitimacy and value of FIFA’s brand of honesty. This is not like playing football; it’s a massive challenge, and I congratulate you for it.”

And FIFA President Infantino said : “It’s not just that we’re all here today, but that we’re all here today with a smile; with happiness; with a heart filled with joy. And, this is just thanks to the huge work of the Costa Rican Football Federation, from Rodolfo’s team, also from Rodrigo’s team in the government. From everyone who has helped us make this Women’s U-20 World Cup a complete success. We have worked together as a football team – a football team that has won in a really difficult match. Because this Women’s U-20 World Cup is the first youth World Cup organised since the [COVID-19] pandemic,” said Infantino.

A meeting of the FCRF Executive Committee, steered by Villalobos and attended by Infantino, Chavez and FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, kicked off the day’s events. During the gathering, the two FIFA representatives were shown a video of the upcoming projects that the federation plans to carry through with the help of funds from FIFA’s Forward Programme. These include facilities for the women’s youth sides and beach soccer changing rooms.