FIFA-financed trendy Andorra stadium

Article posted by Coliseum, October 22^nd, 2025

Image: FIFA

The Andorra national football team officially inaugurated its new national football stadium, the Nou Estadi de la FAF, recently ahead of Andorra’s (country in Europe) FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifier against Serbia.

FIFA played a critical role in financing this infrastructure committing a total of USD 5,564,797.57 across two phases of Forward funding.

‘INSIDE FIFA’ stated that set against the dramatic Pyrenees backdrop the official opening of the venue is a pivotal moment for the Andorran Football Federation (FAF – the governing body of football in Andorra) and marked the culmination of a construction plan supported by FIFA.

The Andorra national football team represents Andorra in Men’s international football and is controlled by the Andorran Football Federation, the governing body for football in Andorra.

The Nou Estadi de la FAF, also referred to as the Nou Estadi a Encamp, is a stadium located in Encamp, Andorra. It is the national stadium of the Andorra national football team and is used for association football. Opened in 2025, the stadium has a capacity to hold 5,108.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup™, marketed as the FIFA World Cup 26™, will be the 23^rd FIFA World Cup™, the quadrennial international Men’s soccer championship contested by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The tournament will take place from June 11^th-July 19^th, 2026. It will be jointly hosted by 16 Cities in three North American countries. The main host country of matches is the United States while Canada and Mexico will be the auxiliary hosts. The tournament will be the first to be hosted by three nations.

‘INSIDE FIFA’ further stated that the above ambitious project was substantially backed by FIFA Forward Programme funding which is designed to ensure the future of football remains vibrant and promising in all countries.

Exulted Felix Álvarez, FAF President, “We are very happy to officially inaugurate the New FAF Stadium. A Category 4 facility never seen before in Andorra. The stadium will now be the venue for matches of the National Football Team as well as other important competition events in our country. This impressive stadium, with more than 5,000 seats, has been thanks to the FIFA and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) programs, represented here, as it could not be otherwise. It is for this reason that we are especially happy and proud to be able to all gather here to celebrate this inauguration which represents a leap forward in the history of Andorran football.”

After two-and-a-half years of construction, which began in December 2022, the new facility now stands as a state-of-the-art arena and is equipped with advanced infrastructure.

It boasts a heated hybrid turf pitch and five spacious dressing rooms along with dedicated warm-up and activation zones. Reflecting a commitment to sustainability the design incorporates eco-friendly solutions including solar panels and a rainwater collection system.

Remarked Elkhan Mammadov, FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer, “Only 18 months ago we were here for the opening of the training complex of FAF (La Massana), also funded by the Forward Programme. This shows the consistency of the development of infrastructure in Andorra. This is exactly what FIFA aims via the FIFA Forward Programme fostering the growth and development of football by investing in tangible projects. It is about giving the opportunities to boys and girls to train, to play and represent their country in the international level.”

The FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted the stadium’s significance in a message of support, “A national stadium is not simply a place to play football. It is the stage on which dreams come true, where memories are made and where so many chapters are written in a country’s football history. It is with great pride that I can say that, with the support of FIFA, your dream of having a fully equipped national stadium fit for that purpose is now a reality.”

The FIFA Forward Programme is a sports development program that provides funding and support to FIFA’s 211 member associations and six confederations to develop football globally. Launched in 2016, its core principles are to increase investment, maximize impact and enhance oversight through transparent and accountable project funding with a goal of developing football infrastructure and opportunities worldwide.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is one of six continental bodies of governance in association football. It governs football, futsal and beach football in Europe and the transcontinental countries of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan as well as the West Asian countries of Cyprus, Armenia and Israel. The UEFA consists of 55 national association members. Since 2022, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the FIFA and the UEFA suspended all Russian national teams and clubs from any FIFA and UEFA competitions.

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