Pushing the sports tourism sector in Sri Lanka to a new level, the official FIFA World Cup Fan Zone 2026, where the tournament will be broadcast live, was officially launched yesterday (11) in front of the Grand Oriental Hotel on York Street, Colombo Fort. At this inaugural event, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the minister revealed many special insights about the future of football in the country, infrastructure development, and a new boom in the tourism sector.

Here, making a special statement, the minister mentioned that the International Football Federation has agreed to provide support for building an international-level football stadium in Sri Lanka. According to an agreement reached during the visit of FIFA's Vice President to the country last year, the land of the Negombo Kadolkale stadium, which belongs to the Sri Lanka Investment Board, has been selected for this purpose, and the basic legal procedures have already started. This will pave the way for hosting international football tournaments in Sri Lanka in the future, and it will also be a major boost to the tourism sector in and around Negombo.

The Foreign Minister emphasized here that just like cricket, football can also take the country’s sports tourism sector which still hasn’t reached its full potential to international levels, rapidly developing it. He pointed out that despite various global crises, tourists are flocking to the country in large numbers due to Sri Lanka’s unique hospitality and national heritage, and that as of May 31, the number of tourists visiting the country has already surpassed one million.

Also, the minister said that the Grand Oriental Hotel, which dates back as far as 1837, is not just a local hotel but an international heritage site appreciated even by foreign heads of state. He also mentioned that the cabinet has already made a decision to upgrade this historic hotel, owned by the Bank of Ceylon, to match modern standards.

While watching the World Cup football matches live, the minister extended an open invitation to all football fans living in Colombo and nearby areas to come to this Fan Zone in the coming days to experience the historic significance of the Grand Oriental Hotel and to get some mental relaxation from their busy lives. The minister concluded his speech by expressing his special thanks to the management of the Grand Oriental Hotel and the 'York Street Live' team for organizing this unique event.