The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, greeted the “Golden Ball” Gala Evening with a video message, praising the achievements of Albanian football during 2024.
FIFA President Infantino highlights the dignified representation during “Euro 2024”, the creation of the “Elite Youth Development Academy”, and many other events marked 2024, while wishing success to the National Team in the new qualifying edition for the World Cup.
Below is the full message from FIFA President, Infantino:
“Dear President, dear Armand, dear friends and colleagues of the Albanian Football Association, what a year 2024 has been for Albanian football!
There is so much to celebrate this evening. I can imagine how every Albanian fan around the world is excited and inspired by the National Team’s performance in EURO 2024.
The return to EURO for the second time in three editions was a remarkable achievement, and in an extraordinarily strong group, the team must have made all of you very proud.
With 16 spots now available for European teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you must truly be optimistic about making history by qualifying for the first time for the final tournament.I wish coach Sylvinho and all his players the best of luck for the upcoming qualifiers. And, of course, the Women’s National Team should be just as ambitious with the goal of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil.
Success on the field is, of course, the result of the tireless work of the Albanian Football Association off the field, under the leadership of President Duka.
The “Elite Youth Development Academy” that opened in September will ensure sustainable success in the years to come, and the numerous tournaments held during the year helped maintain the growth of grassroots football across the country. Giving your best talents, both girls and boys, the opportunity to be tested against teams from other countries provides them, and everyone involved with Albanian football, a great chance to learn, grow, and break through.
This is the principle behind the increase in the number of teams and the frequency of the FIFA U-17 World Cups for both boys and girls, and I look forward to seeing your efforts rewarded with the representation of Albania at a global level in the near future.
Of course, players of all ages and abilities need conditions and coaches, and I was impressed to see the progress you’ve made in this area. A large number of fields have been established, and two stadiums have been renovated, while high-level expertise has been brought in to share knowledge and best practices to ensure that your players receive the best possible training.
Also, seeing the referee courses and workshops at the European level that you organized in 2024, it’s clear that football is alive and flourishing in your football-loving country, and it will undoubtedly grow even more in 2025. Now, congratulations to the winners of the 2024 awards for their achievements and, of course, I wish you all a wonderful evening.
Thank you very much. See you soon. A hug for everyone,goodbye.”
