“Latvijai jābūt ambiciozai arī sportā. Mēs esam pierādījuši, kad spējam sarīkot augsta līmeņa starptautiskus sporta pasākumus, un nākamais mērķis ir spert soli tālāk,” economy minister Viktors Valainis stated as FIFA president Gianni Infantino touched down in Riga on September 28.
Riga Talks Target Global Youth Tournament Bid
Economy Minister Valainis and Latvian Football Federation (LFF) President Vadims Ļašenko personally welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino to the Latvian capital. Their discussions homed in on establishing modern football infrastructure and evaluating the direct economic impact of major international sports competitions on the national economy.
Valainis stressed that securing matches for the global youth tournament would act as a vital catalyst for domestic football development while massively boosting the country’s international visibility.
Redeveloping Skonto Stadium as a National Priority
A competitive bid demands modern facilities that strictly adhere to international tournament standards. To meet this challenge, Valainis confirmed government backing to build a national football stadium on the exact site of Skonto Stadium. The Latvian Football Federation treats this specific proposal as its primary venue priority.
At the same time, the economic ministry emphasized that a new national arena cannot function as a single-purpose facility. It must maintain strict economic viability by serving broader sports, cultural, and international events year-round.
Proven Track Record in Continental Competitions
Latvian sports authorities are using their established organizational track record to validate their global ambitions. Earlier in 2026, Latvia successfully co-hosted the UEFA European Futsal Championship finals alongside Lithuania and Slovenia.
Looking ahead, Riga, Jelgava, and Jūrmala are locked in to host the UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals from May 24 to June 6, 2027. Officials maintain these fixtures thoroughly demonstrate the nation’s capacity to manage complex, multi-city international tournaments.
Government leaders continue to evaluate large-scale sports investments through the lens of macroeconomic growth. Valainis noted that such tournaments reliably drive up foreign visitor counts, stimulate heavy demand across hospitality, catering, and transport sectors, and sharpen the country’s overall profile.
The high-level talks with FIFA leadership successfully mapped out the concrete prerequisites required for Latvia and Ukraine to ultimately formalize their joint bid for the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Related reading
