It is indeed my privilege to meet all of you on my first visit to Fiji, were the words of FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura during the banquet dinner night which was hosted by Fiji FA at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Sunday night.
She met with the Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Fiji Sports Council chairman Peter Maizey, Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism Faiyaz Koya, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Villiame Naqata, and other dignitaries.
Samoura congratulated Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on the Fijiana’s win over South Africa on Sunday.
“I congratulate Prime Minister for the Fijian’s win tonight (Sunday) and I believe it is the beginning of many more victories for women in sports and hopefully soon for women in football,”
“I would like to share the greeting from our president Gianni Infantino who would be I am sure delighted to visit you next year while commissioning the third hub of sports and also having the privilege to be in the region for the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year,”
“It is also a privilege to witness the extraordinary work Fiji FA is doing to really make sure that football is thoroughly global and this is really part of the vision for 2023 of our president Infantino and we would like to see football played by everyone at all level and all age categories,”
‘Fiji FA’s commitment to women’s football and also to grassroots football is a testimony to your commitment to making sure that we also share that common passion here in Fiji by taking women’s football outside your region and hopefully very soon in the next World Cup,”
She also revealed that in 2026 they will be having an expanded men’s World Cup
“Starting in 2026 we will be having an expanded men’s World Cup from 32 teams to 48 teams meaning that there will be an additional slot from Oceania please take this opportunity to take Fiji to the biggest stage which will be hosted in three countries which are USA, Canada, and Mexico,”
‘It is just four years from now and it is an opportunity for small countries like Fiji to be competing at the top level against the big nations in football, there are always surprises and Fiji could do that,”
