Gianni Infantino, president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), announced a new partnership with the Board of Peace on Thursday (19 February), committing to build football pitches and arenas in Gaza as part of broader efforts to rebuild the region.
At the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, Infantino said that recovery in Gaza must go beyond traditional infrastructure.
“We don’t have to just rebuild houses, our schools, our hospitals, our roads — we also have to rebuild and build people, emotion, hope and trust. And this is what football, my sport, is about,” he told attendees.
In a video presentation following his comments, organisers said FIFA is pledging $2.5 million to help establish a “complete football ecosystem designed to support communities and future generations.”
The construction of sports infrastructure in Gaza - including football pitches, arenas and youth programmes - is intended to provide not only recreation but also promote social cohesion and restore a sense of normality for young people in the territory.
In December, Infantino presented Trump with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, an award created by the organisation to recognise “exceptional actions for peace and unity.”
Through initiatives like the Football for Hope Movement and the FIFA Foundation, the organisation has previously supported reconstruction and social development projects using the sport as a vehicle for community building and youth engagement.
The FIFA Foundation has provided humanitarian aid in crises such as natural disasters and has committed millions in past years to rebuild damaged football infrastructure, particularly in regions affected by conflict or disaster.
The planned project in Gaza fits within broader discussions at the Board of Peace about reconstruction and stabilisation following years of conflict that devastated the territory.
Member countries of the board have pledged billions of dollars towards these efforts, with initiatives ranging from security force training and deployment to economic redevelopment and the restoration of public services.
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