Today, the “House of Football” welcomed Andriy Shevchenko, the President of the Ukrainian Football Federation, for an official visit. Invited by the President of the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF), Armand Duka, the football legend arrived in Tirana at around 11:00 AM and later toured the facilities of the “House of Football.”

Accompanied by FSHF General Secretary Ilir Shulku, Administrative Director Aldi Topçiu, and Executive Committee member Envi Hicka, Shevchenko had the opportunity to explore the history and achievements of Albanian football over the years.

During his visit, Shevchenko inspected the national team’s training center, the training fields, the museum, and the administrative offices of the FSHF.

The two parties exchanged insights on the further development of football, shared experiences, and discussed various projects and infrastructure investments.

In a statement to fshf.org, Shevchenko expressed his satisfaction with his visit to Tirana and thanked President Duka and the FSHF for their invitation and hospitality. He commended the development of football in Albania and its role in the country’s overall growth.

“Thank you, I am very happy to be here, and I want to thank President Armand Duka, a friend, for this wonderful opportunity and the warm hospitality. I’m deeply impressed by the work that has been done. I’ve been coming to Albania for many years and I see the country growing tremendously. The entire country is progressing, but I believe that the biggest growth is coming from football, which is developing rapidly,” said Shevchenko. He also praised FSHF’s sports infrastructure.

“This beautiful sports center, with offices and training fields equipped to host top-level teams, provides them with everything they need to prepare effectively for their training. I’ve visited many sports centers, and I’m impressed because the organization and the concept behind building such an important project—one that is accessible to everyone involved in the Federation—is remarkable. We see facilities for both women’s and men’s football, event hosting structures, youth facilities, and above all, structures for national teams. The center also houses a very beautiful museum, which I found very interesting, and I learned a lot today that I didn’t know,” Shevchenko added.

At the conclusion of his statement, Shevchenko wished success to Albanian football, the FSHF, and the national team in their World Cup qualification efforts.

“I wish your football team, all of you, continued success on your upward journey and qualification for something significant. I know you have a tough group, but football is played equally once the match begins, so it’s important to have confidence,” concluded Shevchenko.

Afterward, Shevchenko was hosted by President Duka, and together they attended the UEFA Nations League match between Albania and Ukraine for women at the “Niko Dovana” stadium.

/a.c/