DOHA: Fahad Abdullah Thani Al Zarraa, Director of the Development Department at the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Project Officer of FIFA’s Talent Discovery and Development Program in Qatar, recently concluded his participation in the FIFA Talent Discovery and Development Workshop held in Brisbane, Australia, from January 17 to 21, 2025. The workshop featured a lineup of distinguished international lecturers, including Richard Allen, FIFA Talent Development Officer; Kelly Cross, FIFA High Performance Officer; and Dr. Mohammed Jado, Technical Officer in the Development Department at the QFA. The event aimed to share knowledge and best practices among member associations to enhance talent discovery and development systems, providing greater opportunities for nurturing future football stars. Representatives from 13 countries across four confederations attended the workshop, fostering constructive dialogue and collaboration. Key topics included talent discovery and development, coach education, and the development of national youth teams. The workshop emphasized the importance of continuous learning, innovation, and adopting new approaches to football development. Fahad Thani highlighted the significance of specialized programs for identifying and refining young talents. “Many countries are prioritizing the development of structured programs to discover and nurture talents from an early age. This proactive approach ensures a successful investment in the future of football, providing clear pathways for growth and development,” he said. He also expressed gratitude to FIFA for organizing the workshop, stating, “Asian football has made remarkable progress in recent years, with significant advancements in both men’s and women’s football. To sustain this growth, we must focus on developing young talents through scientific and systematic methods, creating more opportunities for their success.” The workshop aligns with FIFA’s broader efforts to bridge the gap between leading football nations and emerging federations. In January 2020, FIFA launched the “Leading Talent Development Programme” in Doha, led by Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s Director of Global Football Development, to promote global football development.