Johannesburg is set to become a major hub for football development in Southern Africa following the signing of a cooperation agreement between the South African government and FIFA to establish a fully supported FIFA Regional Development Office in the city.
The agreement was signed on Sunday, 18 January, by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie and FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the sidelines of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Rabat, Morocco.
Under the deal, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will provide institutional support, including visa facilitation, customs assistance and coordination with local authorities. FIFA, in turn, will fund and staff the Johannesburg-based office, which will serve South Africa as well as neighbouring countries in the Southern African region.
Speaking from Rabat after the signing, McKenzie described the agreement as a significant step towards strengthening football development across the region.
“This marks a practical step toward ensuring that development projects, coaching support, technical programmes and administrative capacity are accessible within Southern Africa,” McKenzie said.
He emphasised that while the office will be hosted in South Africa, its mandate will extend beyond national borders.
“This office is not just for South Africa. It is intended as a resource for the entire Southern African football family,” he added.
The FIFA Regional Development Office is expected to improve access to FIFA development programmes, enhance technical expertise, and support capacity building among football associations in the region. It is also anticipated to strengthen cooperation and coordination between Southern African football bodies.
McKenzie also took the opportunity to commend Morocco and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for hosting a successful AFCON tournament, saying it once again demonstrated Africa’s ability to stage world-class sporting events.
The establishment of the office in Johannesburg is seen as a strategic boost for local and regional football, particularly in youth development, coaching education and football administration, as FIFA continues to decentralise its development support closer to member associations.