GFF, FIFA launch $44M per year Youth Ensemble Programme

– nationwide youth football development targeted

An annual investment of $44 million over the next four years will be directed into the newly launched Youth Ensemble Programme, as the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in collaboration with FIFA, officially unveiled what has been described as the largest investment in youth football in Guyana’s history.
The programme was launched on Saturday at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence and is aimed at transforming youth football development across the country through structured, year-round competitions focused on player development, talent identification and long-term national growth.
Under the initiative, national competitions for boys at the U13, U15 and U17 levels will be introduced across all nine Regional Associations, with matches set to begin on May 16. An U20 Men’s Championship is also expected to be added in 2027.
For the first phase of the programme, U13 and U15 competitions will be played at the regional level, with U13 matches scheduled for Saturdays and U15 games on Sundays through July. Competition in the U17 division is expected to commence in August.

Speaking at the launch, GFF President Wayne Forde described the initiative as a major step forward for football development in Guyana.
“This programme represents more than the organisation of football competitions. It is a deliberate investment in the future of our young people, the future of our communities, and ultimately, the future of Guyanese football.
The Youth Ensemble Programme is a joint effort between the GFF and FIFA to institute a sustainable annual calendar of structured youth football competitions throughout Guyana. It is designed to create a modern and organised framework for youth football development, while ensuring that our young players are consistently engaged in meaningful competitions and guided by proper technical support.
Under this programme, National Youth Championships for both boys and girls will be played in accordance with the GFF’s revised 2026 football season calendar.
This programme would not have been possible without FIFA, our regional associations, GFF staff, match coordinators, and all stakeholders who have contributed and continue to contribute to this ground-breaking project,” Forde stated.
Technical Director Bryan Joseph said the programme is expected to significantly strengthen scouting and player development throughout the country.
“The Youth Ensemble Programme aims to expand the national scouting pool through structured competitions, providing greater opportunities for young talent to be recognised.
A core pillar of this initiative is talent identification and player development, strengthened through consistent youth competitions similar to the UEFA and US football models. We envision engaging approximately 130 clubs nationwide and directly impacting more than 3000 boys across the various age categories,” Joseph explained.
The programme will be played in two phases. The opening intra-association phase will feature league-format competitions organised by each regional association involving registered clubs within their respective age divisions.
The second phase, known as the National Championship Playoffs, will see U13 and U15 teams divided into four groups before advancing to semi-finals and championship matches using a combination of round-robin and knockout formats. The top two teams from each regional association will qualify for the national playoffs in their respective divisions.
The GFF also confirmed that child safeguarding will remain a mandatory component of the programme through its Memorandum of Understanding with the Rights of the Child Commission and alignment with FIFA’s global Child Safeguarding Strategy.
Matches are expected to be played in communities across Guyana, with organisers aiming to expand access to structured football opportunities nationwide while also improving preparation pathways for future national youth teams.