FIFA Committed to Reviving Palestinian Football in Gaza

FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that football is not just about matches, but also about hope. He is fully committed to helping rebuild Gaza's football infrastructure, devastated by conflict.

“We will help rebuild all football facilities in Gaza, revive football together with the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), and create opportunities for children through this game," Infantino stated, as quoted by Aljazeera on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

Infantino delivered this statement at the Gaza Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday, October 13, 2025. He was one of over 20 world leaders present to discuss Gaza's post-war future.

"It is very important for FIFA to be here, to support, to help, to ensure that this peace process truly materializes," he continued.

Infantino affirmed that FIFA will be directly involved in Palestinian football's recovery, from rebuilding stadiums and youth academies to introducing new competitions in the region.

Beyond that, FIFA is also preparing a special fund for projects such as building new pitches, training young coaches, and developing early-age programs.

“The role of football is to support, to unite, and to give hope,” said Infantino.

Concrete steps prepared by FIFA include building mini-pitches and “FIFA Arenas” – multifunctional facilities for matches, training, and community activities. FIFA will also engage various global partners to join this initiative.

“Football brings hope to children, and that is very, very important,” Infantino stressed.

However, amidst these solidarity efforts, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) renewed its call for FIFA to suspend Israel's membership. The PFA accused Israel of discrimination and involvement of its clubs playing in occupied Palestinian territories.

This issue is not new. Last year, FIFA's Disciplinary Committee was asked to review the allegations, but the final decision was postponed and referred to the FIFA Council.

This month, FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani acknowledged that the process is still ongoing.

“Honestly, I don't know how far along it is. I know it's with the legal department, but there hasn't been a completed analysis,” he said.

“When it's ready to be presented to the council, we will review it and take the necessary decisions.”

With this new initiative, FIFA hopes football can become a language of peace in Gaza – not just a game, but a symbol that hope can still grow, even amidst the ruins.