FIFA and Swiss Government Partner to Build Mini-Pitches in the West Bank

FIFA, in partnership with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will open two FIFA Arena mini-pitches in the West Bank in 2026, marking the first step in a broader initiative to restore football infrastructure across the region. T

he Swiss government is contributing CHF 120,000 to the project, enabling construction and supporting a long-term plan to eventually install ten mini-pitches across FIFA Member Association Palestine and FIFA Member Association Israel.

The announcement builds on comments by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace in October 2025, in which he emphasised football’s role in fostering unity and rebuilding communities.

“Football’s role has to be to support, to unite and to give hope in the region.”

“We will help rebuild all football facilities in Gaza and Palestine. We will bring football back in every corner of the country,” Infantino said. 

The project pairs the initial pitches with a dedicated training program for children, creating safe spaces that promote inclusion, skill development, and personal growth. 

“They represent not only infrastructure, but also a message of solidarity and a belief in football’s ability to bring communities together, even in the most challenging contexts.”

“FIFA expresses its deep gratitude to the Swiss government for this important contribution,” Infantino added.

The initiative is part of the global FIFA Arena programme, which aims to deliver at least 1,000 mini-pitches by 2030. Since March 2025, FIFA has inaugurated 30 mini-pitches in 15 countries, with additional projects scheduled in eight more nations.

To date, 59 FIFA Member Associations have signed up, with facilities delivered or installed and a new cycle of expansion launching in 2026.

FIFA Arena mini-pitches provide safe, durable spaces for communities lacking access to sport, complete with balls, bibs, and training materials to ensure meaningful activity from day one.

Beyond football, the program has acted as a catalyst for broader community improvements, including school infrastructure enhancements, increased school attendance, and local economic stimulation tied to construction and maintenance.

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