Everything that aspires to select Puerto Rico is to score a goal when in front of the world champion, Argentinain a preparation match on October 13 at the Soldier Field in Chicago.
This was stated by the president of the Puerto Rican Football Federation, Iván Rivera, during the press conference held at the offices at Wynwood, Miami, of the Argentine Soccer Association.
Many will ask how a squad that is located 155 of the World FIFA ranking managed to agree on a friendly match against the team that has to sharpen the knife very well to defend its crown in the 2026 World Cup, which will start next June in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The effort made by Rivera to develop football on the island of charm is key and has found in the president of the AFA Carlos Tapia a kind of mentor.
The huge advances
Rivera said that in the last 15 years there has been an “exponential growth” of football in Puerto Rico and said that one of the main reasons for this is access to international football that occurred on the island during that period.
“Before television channels only passed sports that are played in the United States,” explained the manager. “With the arrival of the cable and digital platforms, young people began to see high -level football and were excited.”
Six years ago, Rivera assumed the reins of the FPF. He developed his strategy, began the dissemination of football in schools, the teachers of Physical Education were trained and little by little better levels were achieved.
“Many abandoned baseball parks have been invaded by soccer players,” Rivera said. “There are now new talents for football are emerging.”
The main soccer stadium is Juan Ramon Lubriel de Bayamón, which was previously the stellar scenario of baseball.
The Islanders of Puerto Rico, who played in the NASL at the beginning of the new century, helped the growth of the fans for football. That team was owned by the NBA star Carmelo Anthony, of Puerto Rican roots.
In August 2012, the world champion of Spain played with all his stars in that scenario a friendly against Puerto Rico and won 2-1.
The big steps
Puerto Rico has its own football league and some of its best players have reached the MLS such as Chris Armas, the Chicago Fire; and Wilfredo Rivera al Orlando City. Now there are some in the USL, such as Nicolás Cardona, from Miami FC.
As part of the development undertaken, the inauguration of the new FPF offices in San Juan, built at a cost of one million 200,000 dollars, was scheduled for the first of October.
“We received two million dollars a year as part of the football development program that FIFA has worldwide,” said President Rivera. “Most of this money uses in the participation of our selections in the official international competences and in the payment of the personnel.”
Agreements with Puerto Rican personalities such as artists have also been established Daddy Yankee and Rauw Alejandro for the promotion of football talents.
