President Erdogan opens UEFA Istanbul Office
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin attend the opening ceremony of UEFA’s Istanbul Office in Levent district of Istanbul, Turkiye on April 24, 2025. (Turkish Presidency / AA Photo)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech at the inauguration of UEFA’s new representative office in Istanbul—its first in Türkiye and third globally, after London and Brussels.
During his address, Erdogan also spoke about the recent earthquake in Istanbul, emphasizing that it will be a key topic at the upcoming cabinet meeting.
“We urge those exploiting this situation for personal gain to act with responsibility,” he stated.
Türkiye’s sports infrastructure and international role
Erdogan highlighted Türkiye’s significant progress in sports infrastructure over the last two decades. “We have transformed Türkiye through our sports investments,” he said. “We demolished outdated stadiums and replaced them with modern facilities that meet international standards.”
He noted that UEFA’s decision to open a representative office in Türkiye signals a new level of cooperation. “This will strengthen ties between UEFA and Turkish football, allowing for more direct collaboration and joint projects,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu.
A proven host for international events
Erdogan recalled Türkiye’s experience in hosting major tournaments, including:
- UEFA Champions League Finals in 2005 and 2023
- UEFA Cup Final in 2009
- FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2013
- UEFA Super Cup Final in 2019
He added that Türkiye will host the 2026 UEFA Europa League Final and the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League Final, and will co-host UEFA Euro 2032 with Italy.
“Türkiye has the capacity to successfully organize international sporting events. This is due to the investments and achievements we’ve made over the past 23 years,” he said.
Nationwide sports development
Erdogan shared data on Türkiye’s expanding sports infrastructure:
- Total number of sports facilities: 4470
- Football fields: 1365
- Sports halls: 904
- 38 new stadiums completed
- 8 more stadiums in construction or planning phases
“We’ve built swimming pools, athletics tracks, and courts for various sports across the country,” he added.
Earthquake response and national unity
Speaking on the recent 6.2-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Silivri, Erdogan said, “We received the latest updates at AFAD yesterday and gave the necessary instructions. Our biggest relief is that there were no fatalities.”
He emphasized that the issue would be discussed thoroughly at the next cabinet meeting, and further public statements would follow.
“We do not approve of turning such serious matters into political arguments,” he said. “This is a time for unity, not division.”
Erdogan urged for a responsible and urgent approach to urban transformation projects, calling for action without delay.
“We should not let obstructionists slow us down. We are a nation with the strength and ability to act swiftly. It is time to build and move forward,” he concluded.
