Goal Programme - Belarus Football Federation - 2002

In Belarus, a country that gained independence in 1991, football is the most popular sport, closely followed by ice hockey. The national association takes part in all competitions organised by FIFA and UEFA at senior and youth level, as well as in women's football. Dynamo Minsk were once one of the powerhouses in the top flight of Soviet Union football, sometimes playing in European club competitions. A number of Belarusian players and coaches, such as Sergei Aleinikov, Andrei Zygmantovich (1986) and Eduard Malofeiev (1966 as player, 1984 as coach), represented the Soviet Union at FIFA World Cups and Olympic Football Tournaments. Today, the star of Belarusian football is Alexander Hleb, who currently plays for VfB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga.

On 8 December 2002, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, accompanied by national association president Grigory Fedorov and Minister of Sport Evgeni Vorsin, opened a new football arena in Minsk, complete with an artificial pitch financed by Goal funds. The hall has a capacity of 3,000 and will be of particular importance during the winter months, when football normally comes to a standstill in Belarus. Work on the arena began in October 2002 and was completed in December of the same year. The arena will be used for training sessions of the national teams, as well as for matches in the league championship. It will also be used for events in youth and women's football, sometimes with the support of other organisations. By using this new facility on a regular basis, the national association will be able to compensate for the lack of other suitable facilities around the country.