The opening ceremony featured more than 500 guests, including the president of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) Gianni Infantino, the secretary general of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Theodore Theodoridis and Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar.

"These are the men who contributed the most to the setting up of this centre," NZS president Aleksander Čeferin said at the ceremony, referring to Infantino and Theodoridis.

Located on the edge of the famous Brdo pri Kranju estate, best known as a venue for high-profile international events, the Football Centre was built in a year at a cost of EUR 8.5m.

UEFA and FIFA provided 90% of the funds, with the Slovenian Sport Foundation chipping in another 5%.

Both Infantino and Theodoridis praised the centre, with the former saying that solidarity, responsibility and respect were the essence of football.

"It shows what can be done in a country like Slovenia, who has had some exceptional results in recent years," said the FIFA boss.

Theodoridis added that the centre was an exceptional example of what could be done with development programmes of UEFA and FIFA.

"This centre will be used as an example for others. Every time we are here we see that the project is progressing, and this will be an example of good practice also for others," he stressed.

PM Cerar took the occasion to point to Slovenia's successes in football, including two qualifications for the World Cup and one qualification for the UEFA Euro.

"Many times Slovenians, being used to great results of Slovenian athletes, are not even aware what success these qualifications represent for the nation of two million. In sport, Slovenia is really a superpower," he said.

The facility has been built on the site of a former horse track and comprises three full-sized pitches with natural grass, a multi-purpose indoor training facility, and the NZS administrative headquarters.

The pitches are not reserved for national teams, as the services will be marketed to other sports teams and athletes.

The NZS says several teams have already expressed interest, but the nearby hotel, which is run by the state protocol service, is reportedly not adequate and would have to be renovated.