Headlines
Soccer-FIFA to help Gaza rebuild football infrastructure, says Infantino
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 14, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
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Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 14, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
FIFA President Infantino pledges to rebuild Gaza's football infrastructure, supporting peace and youth programs. The PFA requests FIFA to suspend Israel over alleged discrimination.
(Reuters) -FIFA President Gianni Infantino pledged the governing body’s support to rebuild football infrastructure in Gaza as part of wider post-war reconstruction efforts following Monday's peace summit in Egypt.
Infantino was among more than 20 world leaders who attended the gathering in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.
"It’s something that is really important for FIFA to be here to support, to help, to assist, to make sure that this peace process comes to fruition," Infantino said after the signing of a document outlining plans for regional stability and reconstruction.
The FIFA president said his organisation 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 pitches and youth programmes.
"Football’s role has to be to support, to unite, to give hope," he said.
"We will help to rebuild all the 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 "FIFA Arenas" and invite other partners to join the effort, saying "football brings hope to children, and it’s very, very important".
PFA HAS ASKED FIFA TO SUSPEND ISRAEL
The PFA has repeatedly asked the Zurich-based body to suspend Israel, citing alleged discrimination and the participation of Israeli clubs based in occupied Palestinian territories.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee was asked last year to examine the PFA’s allegations but the governing body later delayed its decision, saying the matter would be reviewed by the FIFA Council.
FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani said this month that the matter had yet to be dealt with.
"To be honest, I'm unaware of where it's at, and I know that it's in the legal department, but I haven't seen any analysis done," he said.
"When they're ready, I guess, to sort of put that forward to the council, then we'll have a read and if there's any decisions need to be made from a council perspective, obviously we'll make them."
(Reporting by Julien Pretot, additional reporting by Christian Radnedge, editing by Ed Osmond)
FIFA, or the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is the international governing body for the sport of football (soccer), responsible for overseeing international competitions and promoting the sport globally.
Football infrastructure refers to the physical facilities and resources necessary for playing and promoting football, including stadiums, training grounds, and equipment.
Humanitarian aid is assistance provided to people in need, especially during crises such as natural disasters or conflicts, aimed at alleviating suffering and supporting recovery.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) is the governing body for football in Palestine, responsible for organizing competitions and promoting the sport within the Palestinian territories.
Reconstruction in Gaza refers to the process of rebuilding infrastructure and restoring services after conflicts or disasters, focusing on housing, public facilities, and community resources.
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