FIFA donates US$1 million to aid Philippines football

World football governing body FIFA is to donate a special US$1 million grant to help rebuild football facilities damaged by Super Typhoon Haiyan.

Welcoming the funding, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta stated "we are deeply moved by this generous support of FIFA that shows their solidarity and sympathy with our nation.

"We are looking at rehabilitating and constructing football facilities in provinces severely hit by Super Typhoon (Haiyan)."

Super Typhoon Haiyan pummelled nearly 200 towns and cities across the central Philippines on 8th November, killing at least 6,009 people and leaving 1,779 others missing according to the official count, making it the country's deadliest typhoon on record.

The PFF said it was drawing up a list of damaged football infrastructure and facilities in the region to assess where the money should go.

Football has been gaining popularity in recent years in the Philippines, where basketball is the number-one sport a legacy of its US colonial past.

Its higher domestic profile has been attributed to the relative success of the Filipino national team, called Azkals (feral dogs), which went up to 133rd in the latest FIFA ranking last month, up 26 places from two years ago.