CAIRO: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has promised that world football’s governing body will help rebuild every damaged football facility in Gaza, saying the sport must serve as a force for unity and recovery following the latest ceasefire in the territory.
Speaking at the Summit for Peace in Egypt on Monday, Infantino said FIFA would work alongside the Palestinian Football Association to restore pitches, supply training equipment and restart community competitions across Gaza.
“Football should bring people together and inspire hope,” Infantino said. “We will rebuild grounds, train coaches, and bring the game back to children in Gaza and across Palestine.”
He announced plans for a dedicated fund to support reconstruction and said the initiative would expand FIFA’s Arena programme, which builds mini-pitches in conflict zones and disadvantaged communities.
The summit, co-chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, was held to consolidate the truce that ended more than two years of fighting and to outline long-term reconstruction plans for Gaza. Leaders from across the Middle East and Europe, as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, were in attendance.
Infantino praised the international efforts that led to the ceasefire, saying the cooperation between Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others had been essential. “Without President Trump’s leadership, this process would not have reached this stage,” he said. “Now, the task ahead is to rebuild lives and reconnect communities.”
He later wrote on LinkedIn that FIFA was “ready to contribute wherever possible” to ensure peace in Gaza translates into tangible recovery.
The pledge comes amid growing calls for FIFA to take a stronger stance on the war. Palestinian officials and human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have urged the body to suspend Israel from international football, citing violations of humanitarian law.
FIFA has not made any formal decision on the matter. Infantino has maintained that disciplinary measures involving national associations require joint consultation with regional confederations.
“Football cannot end wars,” he said last week, “but it can offer a message of peace, inclusion and hope, especially for young people who have lost so much.”
The conflict has left much of Gaza’s sports infrastructure destroyed or unusable, with stadiums and training grounds turned into rubble. FIFA’s reconstruction initiative, officials say, will prioritise restoring youth and community facilities first to ensure that children can safely return to sport.
