Today, at the Olympic Stadium, located in the capital's Olympic Village, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with President of the International Football Federation (FIFA) Gianni Infantino.

Greeting the guest on the ancient and hospitable Turkmen land, the head of state first of all congratulated him on his re-election as the President of the International Football Federation and wished him new success in the development of football around the world.

- I am very happy to visit Ashgabat, - said Gianni Infantino, expressing admiration for the city immersed in greenery that impressed him with its beauty and cleanliness.

- In such an atmosphere, permeated with love and care for a person, his health and well-being, sports, especially football, cannot but develop. Today, in modern conditions of intensive industrial development, the role of sports in improving human health has increased more than ever, and in your country all conditions have been created for this, -the guest continued.

In a conversation with the head of Turkmenistan, the FIFA President noted that he regards the very fact of holding the current meeting at the Olympic Stadium, which is the largest in Central Asia, as a tribute of special respect to him and football.

- We consider your current visit as an important event in the history of football in Turkmenistan. During your stay in Ashgabat, you will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of the National Football Federation and discuss prospects for further expansion of cooperation, as well as get acquainted with the sports infrastructure of our country, said President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, expressing confidence that the results of the visit would give a new impetus to the development of relations with FIFA and will serve to popularize football in Turkmenistan.

Thanks to the important initiatives put forward by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, large specialized facilities have been built in the country that have no analogues in the region. Among them is the capital's Olympic village.

Speaking about the main milestones in the development of domestic football, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that the Football Federation of Turkmenistan was established in 1992. In the same year, games of the National Major League of Turkmenistan and tournaments for the Cup of Turkmenistan begin to be held. In 1994, the Football Federation of Turkmenistan became a member of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.

In 1994, the National Football Team of Turkmenistan reached the quarterfinals of the Asian Games, since 1995 the National Team has been participating in annual international football tournaments.

The successful performance at the Asian Cup-2022 by the youth football team of Turkmenistan (under 23 years old) was noted, which reached the quarterfinals of this prestigious international tournament.

The guest was greatly interested in information about the football teams of our country.

The accession of Turkmenistan to the membership of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) and FIFA gave an active dynamic to the interaction.

As noted, the Football Federation of Turkmenistan pays great attention to the development of children's football. As a result, since 2000, with the active participation of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan and UNICEF, together with FIFA, «Grassroots» football festivals have been held on a regular basis from March to November, in which football players of various ages take part.

Since 2014, the Football Federation of Turkmenistan has been actively cooperating with the Football Association of Central Asia and the Football Federation of Western Asia.

Every year, the Football Federation of Turkmenistan, together with FIFA, holds international seminars in our country to improve the skills of football and mini-football referees, as a result of which referees who have successfully passed the tests receive the status of an international class referee.

During the conversation, the guest was informed that a new city of Arkadag with modern sports facilities is being built not far from Ashgabat. Recently, a football club of the same name was formed, which is already successfully playing in the national championship.

- We are ready to support the initiatives and proposals of FIFA to further promote football in the country and around the world. For our part, we propose to study the possibilities of using the sports infrastructure of Turkmenistan for holding international football tournaments, training camps and friendly matches, -the head of state said.

During the meeting, the guest presented the head of Turkmenistan with a symbolic gift - a personalized T-shirt, an official ball and a FIFA pennant.

Thanking the Turkmen side for the willingness and desire to further intensify cooperation in the field of sports, the President of the International Federation of Football Associations highly appreciated the large-scale work carried out in the country to popularize the mass physical culture and health improvement movement and elite sports.

Then the guest introduced the members of the representative delegation accompanying him to the head of state.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also introduced the guests to the members of the Turkmen delegation participating in the meeting.

The head of state said that it was in the Olympic Village that the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games were held, which became a crucial test for both their organizers and Turkmen athletes.

The head of FIFA, having familiarized himself with the exhibits presented here, was especially interested in the symbols of the 2017 Asian Games. As you know, the main competition, which was of great importance in the life of not only our country, but the entire region, was an alabai named Vepaly. This breed of dog is distinguished by strength, power and devotion. Tumar, one of the national ornaments of the Turkmen people, was also chosen as a significant symbol of sports competitions.

As noted, at the initiative of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Hero Arkadag, the program of the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games was expanded to 21 sports, which was another confirmation of the recognition of traditional sports for the Turkmen people at the world level.

Then the head of state, together with the guests, toured the multi-purpose Olympic Stadium, located on the territory of the Olympic Village. The members of the delegation had the most positive impressions about the design features of the stadium, its technical equipment, and the football field that meets high international standards. A high assessment was given to the existing conditions for training, organization of international competitions, recreation and medical control of athletes.

The guests were greatly impressed by the artistic and monumental image of the head of a giant horse that adorns the dome of the Olympic Stadium and has become a key symbol of the Ashgabat Asian Games.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that the Ahal-Teke horse is the pride and national treasure of the Turkmen people, a symbol of the country's rapid development in all areas.

Alaja is traditionally tied around the neck of the horse - a traditional amulet among the Turkmens, and to bless the beginning of new great deeds and undertakings, the grass yuzarlik is kindled.

These traditions were passed down from generation to generation and, having become a symbol of continuity, have found a worthy continuation in the modern epoch.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino noted that a visit to this world-famous stadium built in white marble Ashgabat was an unexpected gift for him, and expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for organizing a very informative and fruitful excursion.

«The compliance of sports facilities built in Turkmenistan in recent years with high international standards in all respects demonstrates that your country pays great attention at the state level to the development of mass physical culture and high performance sports», -the guest emphasized, once again expressing gratitude to the head of state for the hospitality.

During the visit, President of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) Gianni Infantino met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers N. Amannepesov, with whom issues related to the development of football in Turkmenistan and prospects for further cooperation in this direction, taking into account common goals and objectives, were discussed in detail.

Members of the delegation also met with young football players, with whom they talked and took pictures for memory.

During their stay in Turkmenistan, the guests proceeded to the monument of the famous Turkmen horse Polatly. From here, a picturesque panorama of the new city of Arkadag opens, which received a special legal status - a city of national importance. A successfully implemented megaproject, developed in accordance with the highest standards of modern architecture and urban planning, will operate within the concept of «smart city». Speaking about the excellent natural conditions and the most responsible approach to preserving the ecological environment, which creates excellent opportunities for playing football, Gianni Infantino noted the expediency of creating a FIFA training and methodological centre here in the future.

In this regard, it should be noted that a decision has already been made to build this center in the city of Arkadag, which is designed to promote football in our country, further develop fruitful cooperation with FIFA and other interested foreign partners.

The head of the leading football organization and members of the delegation accompanying him also visited the International Ahal-Teke Equestrian Complex, where a special performance was organized for them by the group of national equestrian games «Galkynyş», widely known in the country and abroad.