SOCCER: FIFA and Board of Peace to support Gaza reconstruction through football

FIFA and the Board of Peace signed a partnership agreement on Thursday to attract global investment for sustainable development in conflict-affected regions through football.

The Board of Peace, established under former U.S. President Donald Trump, held its first meeting focused on a reconstruction fund for Gaza, aimed at rebuilding the territory once Hamas disarms.

The disarmament of Hamas militants, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the size of the reconstruction fund, and the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-torn population are expected to pose major challenges to the board’s effectiveness in the coming months.

Under the collaboration plan, FIFA will build 50 mini-pitches near schools and residential areas, five full-size pitches across multiple districts, a state-of-the-art FIFA academy, and a new 20,000-seat national stadium in Gaza. FIFA said it aims to raise $75 million for soccer-related projects in the territory.

“Today, FIFA and the Board of Peace have signed a landmark partnership agreement that will foster investment into football to support recovery 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.”

The programme will also focus on job creation, youth participation, organized leagues for boys and girls, community engagement, and stimulating local commercial activities, FIFA said.

-Reporting by Suramya Kaushik in Bengaluru; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan/Reuters