FIFA president Gianni Infantino has pledged the governing body’s support for rebuilding Gaza’s football infrastructure as part of wider post-war reconstruction efforts following Monday’s peace summit in Egypt.
Infantino was one of more than twenty world leaders who attended the meeting in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.
“It is something that is very important for FIFA to be here to support, to help, to ensure that this peace process comes to fruition,” Infantino said after signing a document outlining plans for regional stability and reconstruction.
The FIFA president said his organization would help restore football in Gaza and the wider Palestinian territories, including rebuilding facilities destroyed during Israel’s military operation that killed more than 67,000 people and launching a fund to support new football pitches and youth programs.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi attend the summit of world leaders on ending the Gaza war. | Photo credit: REUTERS
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi attend the summit of world leaders on ending the Gaza war. | Photo credit: REUTERS
“The role of football should be to support, unite and give hope,” he said. “We will help rebuild all football facilities in Gaza, bring football back together with the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) and create opportunities for children through the game.”
Infantino added that FIFA would contribute with mini pitches and invite “FIFA Arenas” and other partners to join in, saying that “football brings hope to children, and it is very, very important”.
PFA HAS ASKED FIFA TO SUSPEND ISRAEL
The PFA (Palestinian Football Association) has repeatedly asked the Zurich-based body to suspend Israel, citing alleged discrimination and the participation of Israeli clubs from occupied Palestinian territories.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee was asked last year to investigate the PFA’s allegations, but the governing body later postponed its decision and said the matter would be reviewed by the FIFA council.
READ ALSO | The Israeli gymnastics group is appealing Indonesia’s decision to ban its athletes
FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani said this month that the case had yet to be resolved.
“Honestly, I don’t know what it is, and I know it’s in the legal department, but I haven’t seen any analysis yet,” he said.
“When they are ready, I think, to bring that to council, then we will read it and if there are decisions that need to be made from the council’s perspective, obviously we will make them.”
Published on October 14, 2025
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/Hailey-Bieber-WSJ-Magazine-101425-a7dc9f6ff94f494b9f121f467428bec1.jpg?w=238&resize=238,178&ssl=1 "Hailey Bieber bromea diciendo que su hijo se acuesta como un donut glaseado con loción")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/women-at-renaissance-fair-092525-33d54d0052d14189a9b494e29951fa1f.jpg?w=238&resize=238,178&ssl=1 "Adolescente dijo que arruinaría el disfraz de pareja de un amigo con un traje de feria renacentista")
