COLOMBO, June 12 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka’s football ambitions received a major boost after FIFA agreed to provide financial support for the construction of a new international-standard football stadium in Negombo, Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath announced.
The proposed stadium will be built on Board of Investment-owned land at Kadolkale, Negombo, and is expected to transform the country’s football arena by enabling Sri Lanka to host international tournaments for the first time on a regular basis.
Speaking at the launch of the FIFA World Cup Fan Zone 2026 in Colombo , Minister Herath said the agreement followed discussions held during the visit of a FIFA Vice President to Sri Lanka last year. He added that initial legal procedures for the project have already begun, signaling steady progress towards the long-awaited development.
Once completed, the new facility is expected to meet international standards and provide Sri Lanka with a modern venue capable of staging major regional and world football events.
The announcement was made during the opening of the FIFA World Cup Fan Zone along York Street in Colombo. The fan zone allows local football supporters to gather and watch live World Cup matches in a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
Minister Herath described the FIFA-backed stadium as a game-changing project that would create new opportunities for local footballers while increasing Sri Lanka’s visibility on the international sporting stage.
He noted that although cricket remains the country’s most popular sport, football possesses enormous untapped potential and could play a significant role in attracting international sporting events and tourists to Sri Lanka.
Highlighting the country’s tourism recovery, the Minister revealed that tourist arrivals had exceeded one million by May 31 this year, demonstrating growing international confidence in Sri Lanka despite global economic challenges.
The planned stadium is expected to become a key part of the country’s efforts to strengthen football development, improve sporting infrastructure and promote sports tourism in the years ahead.
