Trump and FIFA launch $75 million fund to rebuild sports infrastructure in Gaza

US President Donald Trump and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino have announced a joint plan to rebuild sports infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, which has been badly damaged by two years of conflict. According to the announcement made in Washington, a fund of around $75 million, partly financed by FIFA, will be created to rebuild football facilities in the Palestinian enclave. "I am pleased to announce that FIFA will contribute a total of $75 million to projects in Gaza,” Trump said at the inaugural meeting of the "Peace Council,” a body created to support the reconstruction of the territory devastated by the war between Hamas and Israel.

• Pitches, academies and a national stadium

The program, which is expected to begin as soon as the security situation allows, is designed for a period of three years and includes: the construction of 50 mini-FIFA Arena pitches near schools and residential areas; the construction of five standard-sized pitches; the establishment of an elite FIFA academy; the construction of a national stadium with a capacity of 20,000 seats. FIFA stated that the project will also attract additional funding from international leaders and institutions.

• "Historic" partnership and political message

In an official statement, Infantino welcomed the signing of a "historic partnership agreement", emphasizing the role of football in supporting the reconstruction of communities in post-conflict areas. Trump went further, stating that the project would bring "the biggest world stars" to Gaza and that he could personally attend the inauguration of the works. The war that began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, devastated almost all of Gaza's sports infrastructure, suspended the local championship, and forced the Palestinian national team to stop playing matches on home soil. Hundreds of athletes were also injured or killed in the conflict.

Palestinian sport has a strong symbolic and political dimension, being seen not only as a competitive activity, but also as a form of national affirmation and social resilience. The most popular sport is football, coordinated by the Palestinian Football Federation. The national team, Palestine, has been affiliated with FIFA since 1998. It has participated in the Asian Cup three times (2015, 2019, 2023). It won its first major trophy in 2014, the AFC Challenge Cup. For Palestinians, football has a strong identity charge, being one of the few forms of international representation. Palestine participated in the 1996 Olympic Games. It has not yet won an Olympic medal. Main disciplines: athletics, judo, swimming, taekwondo. Participation has a major diplomatic significance - it is one of the few platforms where Palestine appears as a distinct entity.

For young people, sport has an essential function: it provides stability in an unstable context; reduces social risks; creates international opportunities; contributes to community cohesion. Numerous NGOs use football as a tool for therapy and integration.

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