00:052025 was an historic year for Bolivia as the country's football federation celebrated its
00:12centenary. As part of the milestone celebrations, FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended the
00:20inauguration of the first pitch to be completed at Bolivia's new national training complex,
00:25the Casa de la Verde, in the outskirts of La Paz. The facility, the first of its kind in the
00:33country,
00:33is being supported by funding from FIFA Forward and Conmobol's Evolucion program.
00:43Well, this is a truly historic moment for Bolivian football as a whole. After a century
00:48without being able to build and give our national teams a home of their own, a place to train and
00:54prepare for international competitions, we have finally made it possible. Thanks to the support
01:01of FIFA and Conmobol, we have inaugurated the first pitch after 100 years of history. It is a deeply
01:08emotional moment for us. You could feel the affection from the leadership of world football,
01:13continental football, and especially from Bolivian football.
01:22Ultimately, what we have to do is really simple. Infrastructure and competitions. We've seen the
01:32investment in infrastructure today with the extraordinary Casa de la Verde, a bright future,
01:37future, and to giving great joy and happiness to an entire nation, which deserves it, for sure.
01:47We at FIFA, we always say that football unites the world. It unites countries. It unites all those who
01:54want to dream, all those who have a passion, and all those who want to experience an emotional and
01:59special moment. At the event, featuring a host of Bolivian dignitaries and footballing icons,
02:12Infantino was awarded the FBF Grand Gold Medal of Merit, the highest distinction awarded by Bolivian football.
02:22Legends were present today, figures who have brought so much joy to our country.
02:28The heroes of 1963, winners of that year's Copa America, and the legends of 1994, a golden generation
02:36of Bolivian footballers whose talent and spirit gave us the joy of taking part in the 1994 World Cup
02:43in the United States. We hope this will serve as a powerful step forward so that our young talents can
02:50develop the right conditions to grow, and so that, as a footballing nation, we can achieve our goal of
02:56reaching every World Cup.
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