On the first day of the inspection, the panel members engaged in several productive meetings with the technical staff of the MFF, including members of the grassroots unit and the national team director who helped them gain a clear picture of the status of the existing programmes in the region.

They also visited several schools in the city and attended the launch of the “Dream Goal” programme, a tournament conducted under the FIFA Football for Schools initiative that aims to increase playing opportunities among secondary school students. Additionally, with grassroots officers appointed to nine districts, the experts were pleased to see the expansion of the sport extending beyond the capital’s vicinity.

Encouraged by a bronze-level recognition in 2021, the MFF’s grassroots division has since undergone significant restructuring to streamline its focus on expanding its programmes, with a special emphasis on promoting physical education for children.

These efforts include annual grassroots teacher training courses, involving educators from schools across all 21 provinces of Mongolia, along with specialists from provincial and regional sports and education departments.

Furthermore, MFF’s comprehensive blueprint of their future plans, which range from building 30 standard-sized football pitches across Mongolia and increasing participation under the “Dream Goal” programme to introducing more amateur competitions and coach education courses for teachers, coupled with strong support from the Mongolian government, reassured the experts of the sustainability of these plans.

MFF President Bold Molomjamts said: “It is a delight to receive this recognition just as we celebrated our 65th anniversary. We understand the importance of enhancing community football for the long-term development of the sport and the MFF is focusing on increasing the number of children interested in football and aims to establish teams in every school. This achievement is the result of our shared efforts and we will continue fulfilling our duties as an MA of FIFA and the AFC, persistently working towards football development in Mongolia.”