Infantino: This year was great for you, football in Albania is in good hands and capable

Part of the evening Gala “Best 2023” organised by the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) has become FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who via a video message has praised Albania's extraordinary football achievements during 2023.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also stopped at girls' football by making a thorough assessment of the FSHF's football strategy of girls “Rising Stars 2023-2026”.

Below is the complete message of FIFA President Infantino:

Dear President Duke, dear Armand,

Dear colleagues in the Albanian Football Federation,

Dear friends,

On a night like what you're enjoying tonight, we celebrate the best moments of Albanian football, and your country certainly has much to be proud of after a 2023 fantastic year.

In 2022, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of the membership of the Albanian Football Federation in FIFA and you welcomed the final of a European club competition in your beautiful capital.

This year you have secured your participation in the Euro-2024 finals by being ranked for the first time at the helm of your qualifying group. Well, I can only congratulate all of you, President Duke, National coach Sylvinho, all the players and staff that have made that possible. I'm sure next summer you'll make your country proud in Germany.

Of course, with the World Cup FIFA for women, was also a big year for FIFA and women's football. It was a transformative tournament, the best Women's FIFA World Cup to date, and I'm glad to see that the Albanian Football Federation is also focusing on the involvement of more girls and women in football, and we are seeing positive progress gradual in the world rankings in this respect.

I have welcomed with enthusiasm the girls' football strategy “Rising Stars”, which you recently introduced and I want to encourage you to pursue your goals. Imagine how fantastic it would be to see Albania's National Cup. FIFA with 48 teams in 2026 and National Girls in World Cup FIFA for women a year later!

Not only that, but with more opportunities created at age levels thanks to FIFA annual tours with a growing turnout, I look forward to seeing Albanian teams of age for girls and boys make progress and participate in our competitions U-17 and U-20 in a very near future.

I know that the future of football in Albania is in good hands and very capable, thanks to the support of the Government and Prime Minister, my dear friend Edi Rama, and I'm sure you will continue to make your game beautiful and more beautiful thanks to intelligent and creative thinking, and, of course, your determination and hard work. And you already expect so much development next year.

Happy award winners for their achievements this year and, of course, wish you all a wonderful evening.

See you soon. A big hug for everyone. Goodbye”