The Football Federation of Timor-Leste (FFTL) was founded in 2002, the same year the Southeast Asian country achieved independence, and the organisation joined FIFA just three years later. That hustle is a clear sign of Timor-Leste’s enthusiasm for football. But it requires more than passion, and the FFTL has been working painstakingly since then to build football from the ground up in one of the world’s newest nations. For example, Timor-Leste’s national teams still must play qualifiers abroad because the National Stadium in Dili lacks some critical infrastructure. The national teams, as well as local youth, do have a place to play and train, however, thanks to the new FFTL Technical Centre in Dili, the country’s capital. Constructed thanks to USD 1.85 million in funding from the FIFA Forward Programme, the facility has already made a lasting impact on Timorese football.

“Football in Timor-Leste has always been driven by hope and ambition. FIFA Forward has given us the opportunity to turn that hope into progress and that ambition into a real pathway for development,” FFTL President Nilton Gusmão dos Santos said recently. “For countries like Timor-Leste, this support represents far more than an investment in infrastructure. It gives our football community the confidence to believe in what is possible and gives the next generation the opportunity to dream of a better future through football.” The Technical Centre in Dili’s east includes one full-size artificial pitch, two mini-pitches, and floodlights. Dos Santos said the complex is in use constantly, with 30% of the available hours dedicated to youth development, 25% to grassroots activities, 20% to national team training, 15% to women’s football and 10% to coach and referee development.

“From morning until night, our football home is full of life,” Dos Santos said. “We see children discovering the joy of football, young players developing their talent, women competing, and former players returning to remain part of the game they love. When the floodlights come on in the evening, football continues. The lighting allows us to extend training and development activities beyond normal daytime hours and gives more people the opportunity to use the facilities.” Last year, Dos Santos met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Miami, United States, to discuss the Technical Centre project and the prospect of partnering on a new national stadium that would allow Timor-Leste’s national teams to play their biggest matches in front of the country’s passionate fan base.

“I was delighted to welcome the newly elected President of the FFTL, Nilton Gusmão to Miami to discuss a variety of topics, with a special focus on the football infrastructure and the possibility of constructing a new stadium, supported by FIFA Forward funds,” Mr Infantino said at the time. FIFA Forward puts those lofty goals within reach. Established following Mr Infantino’s election in early 2016, FIFA Forward has funnelled nearly USD 5.1 billion in funding to FIFA Member Associations (MAs) and regional associations around the world. Each individual MA received up to USD 8 million each during FIFA Forward phase 3.0 (2023-26), which represents a seven-fold increase from before the programme’s launch.

That funding fuels the “hope and ambition” Dos Santos referenced. Timor-Leste is starting to find its footing, as the men have now qualified for two consecutive ASEAN Championship tournaments (and four of the past five). Aptly nicknamed The Rising Sun, Timor-Leste will compete in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in September-October. Meanwhile, Timor-Leste’s women made history in 2025 with their first participation in the AFC qualification pathway towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ through the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Timor-Leste enjoyed a memorable debut at the tournament by earning a win (over Mongolia) and a draw (with Iraq) in its four group stage matches. The seeds for that success were planted in Dili. “I have personally witnessed how this project has transformed our football community,” Dos Santos said of the new training centre. “FIFA did not simply help us build pitches. It helped us create opportunities and a sustainable environment where our people can play, learn, develop, and dream. “FIFA’s support has made a real and visible difference to football development in Timor-Leste,” he continued. “Through programmes such as the FIFA Forward Programme and other development initiatives, we have been able to create more opportunities for children, young people, women, players, and coaches to participate in football and develop their potential.”