FIFA and the Board of Peace signed a partnership agreement on February 20, 2026, to support Gaza's reconstruction through football infrastructure and youth programs. The initiative aims to build pitches, an academy, and a stadium once security conditions allow. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that FIFA would raise $75 million for these soccer-related efforts.
On Thursday, February 20, 2026, in Washington, D.C., FIFA President Gianni Infantino and representatives from the Board of Peace, established under U.S. President Donald Trump, formalized a partnership to promote sustainable development in conflict-affected regions like Gaza via football. The Board of Peace held its first meeting focused on Gaza's reconstruction fund, intended to rebuild the territory after Hamas disarms and Israeli troops withdraw.
The collaboration outlines a multi-phase plan contingent on safety and security monitoring. It includes constructing 50 mini-pitches near schools and residential areas, five full-size pitches across districts, a state-of-the-art FIFA academy, and a new 20,000-seat national stadium. Implementation timelines vary by source, with some detailing three stages over three years and others four phases spanning 36 months. The program will also prioritize job creation, youth participation in organized leagues for boys and girls, community engagement, and local commercial activities.
Trump stated that FIFA would raise $75 million for these projects and bring global soccer stars to Gaza. Infantino emphasized football's role in recovery, saying, “Today, FIFA and the Board of Peace have signed a landmark partnership agreement that will foster investment into football for the purpose of helping the recovery process in post-conflict areas.” He added, “We don’t have to just rebuild houses or schools or hospitals or roads. We also have to rebuild and build people, emotion, hope and trust. And this is what football, my sport, is about.”
Broader pledges at the meeting included $7 billion from nine governments such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, plus a $10 billion U.S. commitment. However, challenges persist, including Hamas disarmament, fund allocation, and humanitarian aid flow. The Board of Peace has faced criticism; EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it a personal vehicle lacking accountability to Palestinians and the UN, while Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares noted Europe's exclusion. Additionally, a February 16 ICC complaint accused Infantino and UEFA's Aleksander Ceferin of aiding war crimes, and the IOC plans to investigate Infantino's involvement.
FIFA has not disclosed funding sources or confirmed consultation with the Palestine Football Association, which represents a unified Palestinian team recognized since 1998 but yet to qualify for a World Cup.
