After Israel killed a thousand athletes, FIFA signs agreement with Peace Council to build football pitches in Gaza

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has announced what it described as a “historic” partnership agreement with the Peace Council to launch a comprehensive programme to rebuild football infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, which suffered widespread destruction during the recent war.

The agreement comes amid a catastrophic sporting reality. All football stadiums and facilities in the Strip were destroyed by Israeli bombing. Local sports estimates indicate that nearly 1,000 athletes, including hundreds of football players, were killed during the two-year war, which ended with a ceasefire that came into effect last October.

FIFA plan to rebuild the football system

According to a FIFA statement, obtained by the Canary, the agreement aims to “harness the power of football to support recovery, stability and long-term development.” It plans to mobilise international investment to build an integrated football system, including modern infrastructure and sustainable community programmes.

The first phase, lasting three to six months, will see the creation of 50 mini-stadiums near schools and residential neighbourhoods as part of the FIFA Arena initiative. It will also include a school football programme and equipment for younger age groups.

The second phase, lasting one year, includes the construction of five full-size pitches. This is intended to support the re-establishment of organised local clubs and the revival of official competitions.

The third phase, spanning 18 to 36 months, plans to establish a modern academy within the FIFA Academy Network. The academy will focus on discovering talent and providing professional pathways that combine education and sports training.

The fourth phase includes constructing a new national stadium with a capacity of 20,000 spectators. It is intended to host sporting and cultural events and generate income and employment opportunities.

Sport at the heart of recovery

The statement emphasised that the programme prioritises job creation for young people, training local talent, launching organised leagues for girls and boys, and stimulating economic activity linked to sport. FIFA noted that implementation will remain contingent on ongoing security assessments, with a monitoring mechanism to measure progress and ensure transparency.

The partnership is being presented as an effort to revive sporting life in a region that has lost its stadiums, players and infrastructure. It forms part of broader reconstruction efforts following a war that left widespread destruction across multiple sectors, including sport.