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Singapore could host Fifa youth competition, says Fifa chief Gianni Infantino
Fifa chief Gianni Infantino (right) and Football Association of Singapore president Forrest Li met after the second session of the Fifa executive football summit in 2025. PHOTO: GIANNI INFANTINO/INSTAGRAM
SINGAPORE – A Fifa youth tournament, potentially a festival for Under-15s, could be held in Singapore in the future.
That was one of the things discussed between Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Forrest Li, after last week's second session of the Fifa executive football summit 2025 in Miami, one of the host cities of the ongoing Club World Cup in the United States.
Infantino said on the Fifa website on June 21: 'FAS President Forrest Li and I had a constructive discussion in Miami on how we can continue collaborating to take football forward in his beautiful country, including the possibility of the men's national team's participation in the 2026 Fifa Series and the potential hosting of a Fifa youth competition in the future.'
The Fifa Series is a biennial international tournament featuring friendlies between teams from various continents and held in different countries. The next edition is slated for the March international window in 2026. Croatia emerged champions of the pilot edition in 2024.
Infantino, who also offered Fifa's 'full support' to Li, added: 'When I visited Singapore in 2021, I felt the great passion people in the country have for football, and it reflected in the work being done to grow the game.
'Fifa has an established, fruitful relationship with the FAS through Fifa Forward and Fifa Football for Schools, and I offered Fifa's full support to President Li and his team while congratulating him on his recent election.'
Li told the Fifa website that they had discussed an international event for U-15s. The Straits Times has contacted the FAS for more information.
'We talked about the summer – new initiatives from Fifa about the Fifa Series and also the concept of a Fifa festival for Under-15s,' said Li, also chairman of Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors, who made history by finishing as Asian Football Confederation Champions League Two runners-up last season.
'I think that's a great initiative to get more (Fifa member associations) involved and to help the players feel included and get the chance to experience the best of Fifa's football experience. So, I think that is very exciting.'
Li also said the ongoing Club World Cup, an expanded edition featuring 32 teams, is a 'great initiative', adding: 'Finally we see a lot of excitement… and you see the best clubs from different continents finally playing together. So, this is great.'
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