For the 21st edition of the Mediterranean Games, which will be held in Pristina in 2030, it has been decided that football will be replaced by futsal. This marks the first time futsal is included in the official program of the Mediterranean Games, replacing the previous football tournament for under-21 age groups.

Stavri Bello, a member of the Board of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, told ​KosovaPress that the change was made at the request of FIFA, whose main goal is to further develop and internationalize the sport of futsal.

"At the request of the International Football Federation (FIFA), seeing the trajectory of football over the years—where under-22 players always participated but with limited interest—FIFA decided that it would be better to have futsal instead of regular football at the Mediterranean Games. This has nothing to do with the organization of ‘Prishtina 2030’, but it’s a political decision by the International Football Federation to promote futsal,” said Bello.

This change has raised concerns about whether investments in renovating and building stadiums in Kosovo might slow down, as they may no longer be seen as an urgent need.

Although this impacts the initial infrastructure planning, Kosovo authorities have emphasized that investments in stadiums and sports facilities will continue according to the long-term plan.

Kushtrim Krasniqi, spokesperson for the Kosovo Olympic Committee, told KosovaPress that the Ministry of Sport should not change its plans or pace regarding football stadium construction.

"The Executive Committee of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) recently decided to include futsal in the program of the ‘Prishtina 2030’ Mediterranean Games and simultaneously remove U21 and U17 football. This is now official from ICMG, and football will not be part of the Mediterranean Games—we will have futsal for boys and girls, making its debut precisely in Kosovo at the 2030 Mediterranean Games. This slightly changes the investment plan because stadium construction was initially intended for these games. However, the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport is not expected to withdraw investment in stadiums concerning infrastructure. For the Games program, though, the focus will now shift to the national stadium, indoor arenas, and other centers,” Krasniqi emphasized.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport assures that this change will have no impact on the infrastructure development plan for football in Kosovo. Fidan Shatri, Chair of the Commission for Licensing Sports Federations at the ministry, states that the five-year plan to build and renovate 27 stadiums will continue as initially planned.