FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday praised Kosovo’s growing presence in international football, calling its capital “the capital of the football world” during an official visit marked by warm tributes and emotion.
Infantino was received with full honors by Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani, who awarded him a state medal of appreciation for his contribution to the country’s football development since its admission to UEFA and FIFA.
Osmani commended Infantino’s longstanding support for Kosovo’s football institutions. “You have been a devoted friend of Kosovo — a friend who has celebrated our progress and helped transform our football into a source of national pride,” she said.
Infantino said he was deeply moved by the recognition. “It is a great honor and emotion for me to be here in my home in Kosovo,” he said. “Prishtina is today the capital of the world — the capital of the football world — because football is the most important thing in the world.”
The FIFA president dedicated his medal to the late Fadil Vokrri, the former president of the Football Federation of Kosovo and a key figure in Kosovo’s campaign to join international football bodies.
“I dedicate this honor to Fadil Vokrri and to all the people of Kosovo, at home and abroad,” Infantino said, recalling the early efforts to gain Kosovo’s UEFA membership. “It was not easy — Kosovo was still a young country — but the perseverance and resilience of its people made it possible.”
Infantino concluded by praising Kosovo’s national team, saying its players “are showing the world the strength and determination that define Kosovo.”