An F.A. delegation led by Executive Director, David Davies, consisting of match officials, F.A. Ambassadors Lawrie McMenemy and Gary Mabbutt and F.A. International Relations Officer Kim Fisher, travelled to Afghanistan to play a part in the a remarkable match billed as the "Game of Unity" - the first football match to be played in the stadium since the beginning of the atrocities which have torn the country apart.

Three months on, and only a few weeks after the second match to be staged in the Olympic Stadium - between Afghanistan and neighbours Tajikistan (the match finished 1-1) - the roles will be reversed when a 5-strong delegation from the Afghanistan Football Federation arrives at The F.A.'s headquarters in London's Soho Square this week on their first ever official visit to England.

Led by their President, Mr Abdul Alim Kolistany, the delegation's first stop will be FIFA House in Zurich to discuss their re-integration into the world football family with FIFA’s President, Joseph Blatter and General Secretary, Michel Zen-Ruffinen. They will also meet with senior staff in charge of FIFA’s Goal Project and Financial Assistance Programme to discuss short and long term solutions to many of the obstacles they face in attempting to rebuild their football infrastructure. As promised during meetings held with the delegation in February, The F.A. will then host the officials in London for two days of talks at Soho Square.

"Organising this visit to Europe for our friends from the Afghanistan Football Federation is an important step in following up the very well-publicised match that took place in Kabul earlier this year. Despite having to overcome quite a few difficulties along the way, we want to demonstrate our commitment to assisting them in their quest to bring back some degree of normality to their country, using football as the medium", David Davies, The F.A.'s Executive Director, told TheFA.com.

"We will be talking to the delegation about The F.A.'s International Development Programme and how it can play a part in the re-building of football in Afghanistan", explained Jane Bateman, The F.A.'s Head of International Relations. "Whilst FIFA will be able to offer help through their Financial Assistance Programme and GOAL Project, and the AFC via their courses, we will be looking at how we can assist the development of the game in Afghanistan primarily through administrative and technical assistance, as well as kit and equipment donations."

The visit is an important landmark in The Football Association’s international activity and specifically within the remit of its International Development Programme which offers assistance through sharing F.A. expertise with other members of the football family. The F.A. is actively involved in football development in every continent of the world, organising workshops and courses in such fields as coaching, refereeing, administration and sports medicine.

The delegation are due to arrive in London from FIFA House at 20.45 this evening.

For further information, please contact Kim Fisher, International Relations Officer, tel: (44) 20 7745 4703.