Herat, Afghanistan – The first shipment of equipment for the replacement of artificial turf in football stadiums across Herat, Ghazni, Kandahar, and Logar provinces has arrived in Herat, marking the start of a key sports infrastructure development project in Afghanistan.
The Herat Football Federation confirmed that the shipment arrived on Monday, May 18, describing the initiative as an essential and long-awaited step for the development of football in the country.
According to federation officials, the project is being implemented with technical coordination and support from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), particularly through its development programs and technical advisory mechanisms. FIFA’s involvement focuses on ensuring international standards, providing technical guidance, and overseeing quality compliance in the installation of the new playing surfaces.
Officials said the participation of FIFA’s technical experts has played an important role in facilitating planning and ensuring that the project meets required international specifications across the targeted provinces.
Sports authorities emphasized that the upgrading of artificial turf fields will significantly improve training conditions, enable the hosting of official-standard competitions, and contribute to the development of young football talent. They added that improved infrastructure is also expected to increase player motivation and strengthen domestic football competitions.
They further noted that the successful completion of the project would represent a significant step toward the long-term development and professionalization of football in Afghanistan, particularly at the provincial level.
The turf replacement initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve sports infrastructure in the country and align local facilities with international football standards.
