Kuala Lumpur: Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and First Vice-President of FIFA, held a meeting with Valentino San Gil, President of the Guam Football Association (GFA). Shaikh Salman commended the GFA's efforts in building partnerships with the local business community and securing funding to support youth and women's football programmes, contributing to the growing passion for the sport across the island.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Shaikh Salman welcomed the technical progress made by the GFA, including the recent appointment of technical staff to strengthen the national teams ahead of upcoming competitions. He also commended the ongoing development of Guam's National Training Centre, describing it as a cornerstone for future player development. Shaikh Salman underscored the AFC's commitment to providing full support to the GFA in advancing its goals across all areas.
San Gil, who also serves as Vice-Chairman of the AFC Development Committee, expressed gratitude to Shaikh Salman for his continued support and highlighted the AFC's initiatives, particularly the outcomes of the AFC Empowering Women in Football Programme (AEWFP) visit in May 2024, which had a significant impact on Guam's development efforts.
The GFA was recognised at the 2022 AFC Annual Awards in Doha, winning the "Best Developing Member Association - Ruby Category" and the "AFC President's Grassroots Football Development - Silver Category" awards. These achievements reflect Guam's upward trajectory in football, marked by increased participation of national teams and clubs in continental competitions.
Focusing on youth football development, the GFA launched initiatives such as the Guam Youth Academy, which attracted over 1,500 boys and girls in 2024. It also made strides in elite training systems, local competitions, grassroots programmes, and coach education.