FIFA
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pledged to rebuild all football facilities in Gaza following the recent ceasefire in the war-torn region. He made this announcement while attending the Summit for Peace held in Egypt on Monday.
The summit, co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, aimed to support the newly established ceasefire, end the two-year-long conflict, and lay out long-term plans for stability and reconstruction in Gaza.
The event brought together leaders from across the Muslim, Arab, and European worlds, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Infantino’s appearance at the high-level political gathering marked a rare and remarkable moment for a sports figure.
“Football’s role is to support, unite, and give hope,” Infantino said. “In Gaza and across Palestine, FIFA will help rebuild every football facility, bring back competitions, build pitches, and train instructors — together with the Palestinian Football Association.”
He added that FIFA will launch a special fund to restore football infrastructure in Palestine, continuing its contribution through the FIFA Arena Programme and community-level initiatives. “Football brings hope to children — and that’s very, very important,” he emphasized.
Infantino also acknowledged the leadership of President Trump, describing his role as “fundamental and crucial” in achieving the ceasefire.
“Without President Trump, there would be no peace,” he said. “He broke barriers, built bridges, and brought nations together — alongside Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia, Bahrain, and Jordan.”
In a LinkedIn post, Infantino thanked Trump for inviting him to the summit and reiterated that FIFA stands ready to assist the peace process in every possible way.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called on FIFA and UEFA to suspend the Israel Football Association, amid growing global pressure for accountability over the war in Gaza. Infantino has maintained that such matters must be handled carefully and with consensus among football confederations.
“Football alone cannot solve conflicts,” Infantino concluded, “but it can send a powerful message of peace and unity — especially when the world needs it most.”
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