The U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation hosted senior FIFA representatives, Jordan Victoire, Lead Regional Office (Barbados), and David Rosa Manez, FIFA Infrastructure Consultant, during a three-day working visit, Aug. 25–27. Meetings were held with USVISF General Secretary Firas Idheileh, President Yohannes Worede, Vice-President John P. de Jongh, Council Member Michael Bornn, and Local Design Expert Jeffrey Boschulte of Boschulte Engineering.
The visit reinforced FIFA’s commitment to football in the Virgin Islands. Mr. Victoire, with over a decade at FIFA overseeing the FIFA Forward Program across the Caribbean, and Mr. Rosa Manez, a global expert in football infrastructure projects, engaged with USVISF leadership and local experts to shape the next phase of football development.
On St. Croix, discussions focused on the expansion of the St. Croix Technical Center and Headquarters and the future Bethlehem Soccer Stadium Master Plan, largely supported through the Virgin Islands Grant (Act No. 8474, as amended by Act No. 8616).
On St. Thomas, site visits and planning sessions laid the foundation for the St. Thomas Technical Center/Stadium, envisioned as a hub for national team training, domestic competition, and the return of international football to the Virgin Islands. USVISF President Yohannes Worede noted the meetings were “extremely progressive,” highlighting the federation’s commitment to leaving a lasting legacy for players and the wider football community.