FIFA President Gianni Infantino meets Sierra Leone’s President Bio in New York

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hailed his meeting with Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio in New York, describing it as a “pleasure” to reconnect after first crossing paths four years ago.

Infantino shared details of the engagement on his official Instagram page, writing:

“What a pleasure to meet the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, in New York today. We first met four years ago in his beautiful country.

“We discussed several topics, paying particular attention to infrastructure development and women’s football. We also spoke about using football as a driving force to provide opportunities to the youth and maximise human capital.

“President Bio and I agreed that football can teach values that positively impact society as I wished good luck to the senior men’s national team, who still have a chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

The FIFA boss emphasised the importance of football as a catalyst for social development, particularly in creating opportunities for young people and enhancing women’s participation in the sport.

President Bio, a strong advocate for sports and youth empowerment, is expected to leverage this renewed partnership with FIFA to accelerate football development in Sierra Leone.

The discussions are likely to open avenues for investment in infrastructure, grassroots initiatives, and women’s football.

Infantino’s goodwill message to the Leone Stars also comes at a crucial moment, as the national team continues its pursuit of a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.