Football in the Caribbean nation of Grenada is on the rise, literally. In late 2025, ground was broken and work began on the Grenada Football Association’s (GFA) state-of-the-art Technical Development Centre in the town of Simon, Saint Andrew. Construction is being funded by the FIFA Forward Programme and when completed, the facility will include pitches, fitness and recovery areas, office space and classrooms. An island country of some 117,000 people, Grenada has enjoyed a long love affair with the global game. The GFA was founded back in 1924, long before national independence, and it is one of the Caribbean’s oldest football associations. It joined FIFA in 1978 and the men’s national team first entered qualifying for the FIFA World Cup™ during the 1982 cycle and have been a regular since the late 1990s. They reached the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2009, 2011 and 2021.

But growing the game in a small country requires funding and support, making the GFA’s productive relationship with FIFA a vital component of its ambitious hopes and plans for the future. Launched after FIFA President Gianni Infantino took office in 2016, FIFA Forward has funnelled nearly USD 5.1 billion into national and regional football development, and the programme is designed to provide tailor-made solutions and assistance for individual Member Associations (MAs). Each MA received up to USD 8 million each during FIFA Forward phase 3.0 (2023-26), which represents a seven-fold increase from before the programme’s launch. “The Grenada Football Association has been privileged to benefit from a range of development programmes over the past four years through the continued support of FIFA,” said GFA President Marlon Glean, who was elected for the first time in 2022.

The new technical centre is the most visible project, but it represents just a portion of the GFA’s creative and comprehensive use of FIFA Forward funding. It used more than USD 500,000 to bolster the GFA National Grassroots Programme, which provides playing opportunities for girls and boys ages 6-14 at 30 facilities across the country, offering weekly training, tournaments and talent identification. The National Grassroots Programme represents the start of the GFA’s implementation of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme. The GFA has also used USD 1.5 million to support its senior and youth national teams as they continue to expand their competitive schedule. The men’s national team travelled all the way to Rwanda for two FIFA Series matches in March, and the women’s team, won a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualifying game for the first time when they beat Cayman Islands 3-1 in April.

“One of the key highlights is the grassroots program, re-ignited four years ago. (It has) seen over 2,000 boys and girls engaged every Saturday in 30 centres across the Tri-Island State of Grenada. Every child has been provided with a full kit, with each centre fully equipped with the necessary equipment,” Glean said. “Additionally, over 70 coaches are employed to facilitate these sessions towards the goal (of) reaching 5,000 plus children playing and enjoying the game consistently on a weekly basis. This broad participation provides a strong foundation for identifying and nurturing young talent.” The GFA enrolled in the FIFA’s innovative Football for Schools programme in May 2024 and in April 2026, ground was broken on the country’s first FIFA Arena mini-pitch in Gouyave.

“Programmes such as Football for Schools, Grassroots Football, the Talent Development Scheme, Women’s Development Programmes, Club Subvention, FIFA Arena and the development of a Technical Centre, among others, have been instrumental in advancing football in Grenada at all levels,” Glean said. “The impact of these programmes has been tremendous, contributing significantly to the growth of the game and generating renewed interest and passion for football across the country,” he added. “Their influence is particularly evident in the development pathway from foundation football through to our national teams, strengthening the overall football structure within the GFA. “The GFA is sincerely grateful to FIFA for their continued support and is confident that they will bear fruits in the years to come.”