At the annual meeting of the South Khorasan Football Association, Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, highlighted the federation’s commitment to prioritizing football in underprivileged areas across the country.

Mehdi Taj outlined the following strategic initiatives:

• Construct a dedicated building for the South Khorasan Football Association, in cooperation with the province’s General Directorate of Youth and Sports.
• Build artificial turf football and futsal pitches in various cities throughout South Khorasan, contingent upon securing the necessary funding.
• Expand support for football, futsal, and beach soccer development in every province to ensure local youth can thrive in all disciplines.

Taj stressed that a truly national football ecosystem must cover:

• Grassroots football programs to identify and nurture young talent in remote regions.
• Women’s football clinics and leagues to promote gender equity in the sport.
• Futsal and beach soccer initiatives, with Iran already a global pioneer in beach soccer and holding the top ranking in Asia.

The President expressed gratitude to South Khorasan’s Radio and Television for broadcasting futsal programs during Ramadan, noting the positive impact on public engagement and sport promotion in the region.

To sustain momentum, the Football Federation recommends:

• Establishing a centralized tracking system for infrastructure development across all provinces.
• Securing partnerships with private sponsors to co-fund regional facility projects.
• Rolling out specialized coaching courses and talent ID camps tailored to underprivileged areas.