FIFA President Gianni Infantino has marked the start of the first artificial pitch being laid as part of an ambitious collaboration with the Aruban Football Federation (AVB) to reshape the football landscape on the Caribbean island.

With very dry climatic conditions making it difficult to grow natural grass pitches, FIFA and the AVB have spent the last four years planning to establish seven artificial surfaces at clubs across the island with the support of USD 5.3 million in funding from the FIFA Forward Programme.

“It was a true pleasure to join AVB President Egbert Laclé, Vice-President Dyane Wiersma, and General Secretary Aldrin Lampe and the executive committee in Aruba for the official first-roll laying ceremony for the very first of seven artificial turf pitches, supported by the FIFA Forward Programme,” said Mr Infantino. “I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the Minister of Kingdom Relations, Education, Youth, Innovation & Sports, Gerlien Croes, for her wonderful support.”

Two pitches will be laid this year with the remaining five due to be completed in 2027, with the AVB keen to work with lower division clubs to improve infrastructure throughout its football ecosystem and encourage greater female participation.

Grassroots facilities were supplemented by two FIFA Arena pitches – the Boegoeroei Football Field in Noord and the Unistars Arena in Pos Chikito – that opened in June this year to afford schoolchildren greater accessibility to the game. That goal will be reinforced by the impending reception of 300 pairs of football boots provided by FIFA’s Boots for All initiative.

A further three mini-pitches are expected to soon follow as part of the AVB’s partnership with the national government, who are exploring the possibility of establishing more mini-pitches for its population of just over 100,000 people.

With such a small pool from which to identify future talent, the work of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) is key. The first of FIFA’s Caribbean Member Associations (MAs) to launch a FIFA Talent Academy in April 2025, the AVB has set the benchmark for the implementation of the TDS and the Talent Coach programme in the region as they seek to maximise the potential of Aruba’s young footballers.

TDS funding has enabled the AVB to build a strong coaching network, and the promising showing of their boys’ team at the first FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival™, where they defeated Saint Lucia and drew with Croatia and Palestine, suggests those efforts are paying off.

“Together, we are working to transform dreams into reality and bring hope and opportunity to girls and boys across the island by building world-class infrastructure,” Mr Infantino added. “Football belongs to everyone, everywhere and these foundational investments will empower local communities and shape the bright future of the game in this beautiful country.”