How FIFA investment is helping transform football infrastructure in Liberia

Liberia says investment from FIFA is helping to reshape the country’s football landscape, with new pitches, stadium upgrades and grassroots programmes expanding opportunities for thousands of young players.

One of the most significant developments has been the arrival of the FIFA Arena project, a global initiative aimed at building 1,000 football pitches in underserved urban and rural communities worldwide by 2031.

The programme reached Liberia in September 2025, bringing new facilities to communities that have traditionally lacked access to quality football infrastructure.

More than 3,000 children are expected to benefit from two mini-pitches installed at schools in Paynesville, within the Greater Monrovia area, through a partnership between FIFA and the Liberia Football Association (LFA).

The project forms part of FIFA’s wider effort to use football as a tool for education, social inclusion and community development, while providing safe and accessible playing spaces for young people.

Beyond the capital, football infrastructure has also received a major boost in Nimba County, where a standard-size FIFA-approved artificial pitch has been installed at Gompa Stadium through funding from the FIFA Forward Programme.

The investment extends beyond the playing surface itself, with the stadium undergoing extensive improvements designed to enhance both player and spectator experience.

The redevelopment includes the installation of floodlights, an underground sprinkler system, upgraded perimeter fencing and roofing for spectator stands, helping transform the venue into a modern facility capable of hosting competitive matches throughout the year.

The FIFA Forward Programme has also played a key role in the refurbishment of Liberia’s national stadium, the Stade Antoinette Tubman Stadium.

Among the upgrades completed at the venue are new floodlights, allowing matches to be played under lights for the first time in years. The improvements have expanded the stadium’s ability to host fixtures across multiple age categories and competitions, including an increasing number of women’s football matches.

The investment in facilities has been matched by efforts to strengthen football development at grassroots level.

In 2025, FIFA supported the LFA’s rollout of the Grassroots Football School League, a nationwide initiative designed to integrate football into school life while promoting education and personal development among young learners.

The programme caters for various age groups and seeks to create a structured pathway for talented youngsters to progress through the ranks while remaining engaged in formal education.

LFA President Mustapha Raji believes the support received through FIFA programmes has been instrumental in accelerating football development across the country.

“For the first time, we have grassroots leagues in our country running from U-12, U-15 (to) U-17,” Raji said.

“For the first time, we’ve seen women’s football grow in our country, all through the support, to the innovative introduction of the FIFA Forward Programme.”

The developments reflect FIFA’s broader strategy of investing in football infrastructure and development programmes across emerging football nations, with Liberia among several African countries benefiting from increased funding in recent years.

Officials hope the combination of improved facilities, expanded grassroots participation and greater opportunities for women and young players will help strengthen the foundations of Liberian football and create a pathway for future generations to thrive both on and off the pitch.