President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with President of the International Football Federation (FIFA) Gianni Infantino at the Olympic Stadium in the Olympic town of Ashgabat on Thursday, the official Turkmen media reported.
During their meeting, President Berdimuhamedov stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with FIFA and joining efforts at the international level to promote soccer.
The FIFA President said that he considered the very fact of holding this meeting at the Olympic Stadium, which is the largest in Central Asia, as a tribute to him and soccer in particular.
"We are ready to support initiatives and proposals of FIFA to further promote soccer in the country and around the world. For our part, we offer to explore the possibility of using the sports infrastructure of Turkmenistan for international soccer tournaments, training camps, and friendly matches," the Turkmen President said.
Gianni Infantino presented President Berdimuhamedov with a personalized T-shirt, the official ball, and pennant of FIFA. The head of FIFA thanked the Turkmen side for their willingness to further intensify cooperation in sports.
Additionally, Gianni Infantino met with Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Nurmuhammet Amannepesov to discuss the development of soccer in the country.
During his visit to Turkmenistan, the FIFA President visited the monument of the famous Turkmen horse Polatly. Infantino admired the picturesque panorama of the new city of Arkadag and expressed his belief in the potential of creating a training and methodological center of FIFA in the future.
In 1994 the national football team of Turkmenistan reached the quarterfinals of the Asian Games, and since 1995 the national team has taken part in annual international soccer tournaments.