CAPE TOWN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Football's global governing body FIFA is to establish a fully supported regional development office in Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city.

This photo taken on Aug. 10, 2023 shows the view of Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: Xinhua)

In a statement released on Sunday, South Africa's Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) said the agreement was concluded with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the sidelines of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco's capital Rabat.

Under the agreement, South Africa will facilitate FIFA's administrative and operational activities in the country, while FIFA will fund and staff the office, which will serve South Africa and neighboring countries and regions.

DSAC's obligations include visa assistance, customs support and liaison with relevant authorities, with FIFA covering all operational, personnel and program costs.

In the statement, the Minister of DSAC Gayton McKenzie said the signing "marks a practical step toward strengthening football development in southern Africa."

"This agreement is about ensuring that development projects, coaching support, technical programs and administrative capacity are accessible within our region," McKenzie said. "The regional office will allow FIFA to work more closely with our football federations, and while it is hosted in South Africa, it is intended as a resource for the whole southern African football family."

According to the statement, FIFA's regional offices act as daily points of contact for member associations and help deliver development programs under the FIFA Forward initiative, which has channeled more than 1 billion U.S. dollars into African football since 2016.

Hosting the office is expected to give South Africa and its neighbors faster access to technical expertise, coaching and referee development, while strengthening regional cooperation as Africa expands its global football footprint.