ZURICH/GAZA: FIFA and the Board of Peace have signed a partnership agreement to mobilise global investment for sustainable development in conflict-affected regions through football, with Gaza set to be the first focus area.
Read More: Trump takes FIFA Peace Prize spotlight at 2026 World Cup draw
The Board of Peace, established under US President Donald Trump, recently held its inaugural meeting centred on a Gaza reconstruction fund intended to support rebuilding once Hamas disarms. Officials acknowledge that disarmament arrangements, Israeli troop withdrawal, funding scale and humanitarian access will be key challenges affecting implementation.
Under the FIFA collaboration plan, the initiative aims to build 50 mini-pitches near schools and residential neighbourhoods in Gaza, five full-size pitches across districts, a high-performance football academy and a new 20,000-seat national stadium. Trump said FIFA would raise about $75 million for football-related projects in the enclave.
FIFA later clarified that the initiative would include constructing a football academy, a 20,000-seat stadium, and dozens of pitches, and that the money would be raised from “international leaders and institutions.”https://t.co/4WTUtVu1Ws
— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) February 21, 2026
“Today, FIFA and the Board of Peace have signed a landmark partnership agreement that will foster investment into football for the purpose of helping the recovery process in post-conflict areas,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “Together with the support of the Board of Peace, FIFA will drive this partnership which is built to deliver impact at every stage.”
FIFA said the programme will prioritise job creation, youth participation and organised leagues for boys and girls, alongside community engagement and stimulation of local commercial activity linked to sport infrastructure. The body added that partnerships with international donors, development agencies and private investors will underpin project financing and delivery.
Read More: Trump calls Gaza board “irreplaceable,” pledges $10bn
Analysts note sports-led reconstruction initiatives can foster social cohesion and provide youth opportunities in post-conflict environments, though their success depends on security conditions and sustained funding. The Gaza projects are expected to roll out in phases aligned with broader reconstruction efforts.