Lithuania’s first FIFA Arena was officially opened on Friday, 24 April, with a new community football facility unveiled in Riešė, Vilnius District.
The 40m x 20m pitch at Beržų str. 5 in Riešė, north of Vilnius and close by to where TransINVEST are based, has been delivered through a partnership between the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF), Vilnius District Municipality and FIFA. It is aimed at increasing access to football for children, young people and local residents, with an all-year set-up including an artificial surface, modern floodlighting and safety infrastructure.
LFF president Edgaras Stankevičius said the turnout underlined the area’s strong sporting culture. “Vilnius District is one of the most sporting regions in Lithuania, so it is important that the community has another space to be active,” he said, thanking the municipality and mayor Robertas Duchnevič for “consistent co-operation” on the project.
Duchnevič said FIFA’s involvement reflected the success of the municipality’s sports policy and pointed to the development pathway in the district, from youth players to the club game and improved facilities. “The best conditions are now available right here in Vilnius District,” he said.
The opening event was attended by figures from local government and sport, including Lithuanian National Olympic Committee president Daina Gudzinevičiūtė and members of parliament. TransINVEST’s young players were the first to use the pitch, playing an exhibition match against a team of Lithuanian football legends, with other activities for supporters taking place alongside the on-pitch programme.
Under the agreement, the LFF provided essential equipment for the installation, including the artificial turf, goal frames, protective netting and perimeter boards. The FIFA Arena programme forms part of a wider global initiative to build hundreds of small-sided pitches, with FIFA aiming to reach 1,000 such facilities worldwide by 2031.
The LFF said the Riešė site will not be the only one in the country, with a further FIFA Arena planned in Domeikava, on the outskirts of Kaunas.
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Source: https://www.lff.lt/vilniaus-rajone-atidaryta-pirmoji-lietuvoje-fifa-arena-moderni-erdve-futbolui-ir-bendruomenei/
