In Piauí, CBF opens seventh development centre in a year
· Yahoo Sports
The Football Development Center of the State of Piauí was the seventh one inaugurated by the CBF in a single year. At an event held this Thursday (6), the entity officially opened the Piauí unit, located in Teresina.
The project was unlocked in the middle of last year. Although some structures were physically ready, there was no plan to put them into operation. Faced with this situation, the CBF released funds so that the state federations could manage these spaces. The amount exceeds R$ 20 million.
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Before the inauguration ceremony, CBF president Samir Xaud visited the facilities and interacted with the children who will make use of the spaceCredits: Samuel Pereira / CBF
In July 2025, the Development Centers in Rondônia, in Porto Velho, Tocantins, in Palmas, and Amapá, in Macapá, were inaugurated. In August, it was the turn of the states of Santa Catarina, in Balneário Camboriú, and Sergipe, in Barra dos Coqueiros, to receive the facilities. Last week, Serra, in Espírito Santo, had its structure officially opened.
The Development Centers were funded by the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Legacy Fund and allocated to the 15 states that were not host cities for the tournament in the country, as a way of promoting sports and social development in each locality and as a legacy of Brazil having hosted the World Cup.
The facility was funded with resources from the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 Legacy FundCredits: Samuel Pereira / CBF
Its structure includes a synthetic turf field with FIFA Quality standard dimensions (105x68m), locker rooms for teams and referees, stands, medical and administrative areas, parking, and storage, giving it the versatility to host different events. They can host, for example, professional and amateur football tournaments, training courses for referees, managers, doctors, and coaches, as well as events with children beginning sports practice, among others.
The Development Centers have also been used by Brazil’s youth national teams. In preparation for the Conmebol Liga Evolución in September 2025, the Brazil Men’s Under-15 National Team trained at the Tocantins unit. In February of this year, the Women’s Under-17 team trained for the South American Championship at the Sergipe facility, while the Under-15 team went to Santa Catarina to prepare for the season’s competitions.
The Development Center features a synthetic turf field with FIFA Quality standard dimensionsCredits: Samuel Pereira / CBF
Shortly afterward, in April, the Men’s Under-15 team used the Rondônia structure before taking part in a tournament in Croatia.
The acting president of the Rio Grande do Norte Football Federation and of the Working Group (WG) for Grassroots Categories of Brazilian Football, Felipe Diego, highlighted the importance of the Development Centers for promoting the sport in the country.
Felipe Diego (center), president of the Rio Grande do Norte Football Federation, was one of the state federation officials who attended the event in TeresinaCredits: Samuel Pereira / CBF
“The inaugurations of the Development Centers go hand in hand with grassroots work because of the prospect of improving youth development. Improvement at the grassroots level can only come through a minimum structure and, obviously, this here is much more than the minimum. It is a wonderful structure that is being delivered to several states. Now it is Piauí’s turn, a state that is so great and such a partner, to have this opportunity. Brazil and the federations are having a wonderful chance to have such a good structure,” he celebrated.
In the view of 2002 world champion Edmilson, each Development Center should be seen as a tool that boosts players and shapes the character of children.
World champion Edmilson highlighted that spaces like these shape the character of children and young peopleCredits: Samuel Pereira / CBF
“The Development Centers are extremely important. Not only for kids to come play and have fun, but to develop technically and tactically and later on in the football schools. On the field, they have a fantastic tool. And sport and football itself can shape a child’s character. This connection between on and off the field is very important so that they can develop first as men and then as players,” he concluded.
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