KUALA LUMPUR: The future of Asian football is set to usher in greater success and progress as Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa and Fifa president Gianni Infantino confirmed the collaborative project of a new AFC Stadium in a ground-breaking ceremony in Putrajaya yesterday.
Situated approximately 30km from the AFC headquarters in Bukit Jalil, the AFC Stadium in Putrajaya will be constructed on a land site spanning 15.43 acres, fully equipped with a grandstand, spectators' boulevard and atrium, administrative offices, and underground carpark.
The new state-of-the-art football-specific stadium will be financed with the support of the Fifa Forward programme and will further strengthen AFC's ambitions to support their member associations (MAs) and regional associations (RAs) with greater efficiency.
The FA of Malaysia and the government will provide logistical support to the project.
Underlining the significant step forward for AFC and its MAs and RAs, the AFC President said: "The AFC's Vision and Mission has underlined our ambitions to ensure we maximise the potential of our MAs and RAs.
"On behalf of the Asian football family, I must convey our gratitude to Fifa for their willingness to chart a new era of progress with the AFC as well as the Malaysian government for their dedication towards the development of Asian football, not only through this project but for its steadfast support over the decades.
"I am confident that the new AFC Stadium will pave the way for our MAs and RAs to scale even greater heights in the next decade," said Shaikh Salman.
Infantino, who was in Kuala Lumpur to attend the AFC executive committee meeting, said: "I think it is an important investment for Asian football, and I want to congratulate and commend the AFC president and the executive committee members."
"It is a great project, and I am really proud and happy that we are teaming up through this AFC and Fifa stadium which can mark a new step in the whole very important part of the Asian region."
The stadium floor area is approximately 580,000 sq ft with a seating capacity of 10,000 and will feature the highest quality Fifa graded football pitch.
Amongst others, some of the key features also include a cafeteria, a leading-edge media tribune and media commentators' room as well as a vibrant water feature to be constructed at the entrance of the stadium.