Arsène Wenger, former Arsenal manager and FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, launched a FIFA-backed talent development initiative in Cairo on Friday.
The project aims to elevate youth training, improve coaching standards, and enhance football infrastructure across Egypt.
During his visit to the Egyptian Football Association’s (EFA) headquarters, Wenger expressed optimism about the country’s footballing potential, highlighting Egypt’s passion for the sport and its abundance of young talent.
He stressed that with the right development, Egypt could become a football powerhouse.
“We want to develop football at the top level, everywhere, and Egypt is one of the places where we can do a great job,” Wenger said.
Despite Egypt’s success on the continental stage with a record seven Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles, the country continues to face challenges in youth development and international competitiveness.
FIFA’s initiative is designed to address these issues by improving coaching education and player pathways.
Wenger’s visit follows a FIFA workshop aimed at improving talent identification and training methodologies for EFA academy staff.
He also discussed FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup and the importance of strengthening clubs worldwide, noting that the strongest football clubs are currently in Europe.
“We want strong football clubs everywhere in the world, and the Club World Cup can help make that happen,” Wenger said.
The EFA welcomed the initiative as a key part of its strategy to strengthen its partnership with FIFA and boost Egyptian football’s global standing.
