The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Peace Council have announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement. The aim is to secure investment sources worldwide to harness football in supporting the path to recovery, stability, and long-term development in conflict-affected areas, foremost among them Gaza.
The agreement aims to establish a framework for building a comprehensive football system in the long term, providing infrastructure to global standards, launching structured community programs, and creating sustainable economic opportunities in Gaza.
FIFA Supports Recovery in Gaza
Following the signing ceremony, it was stated that the agreement will enhance funding in football to support the recovery process in the areas most in need of conflict resolution. It was noted that FIFA seeks to make the game accessible to as many people as possible and to benefit from the opportunities it provides, given football’s role in bringing peoples together and supporting education, equality, and peace.
The first phase of cooperation aims to implement a comprehensive program to revitalize Gaza, combining physical reconstruction with social and economic recovery.
The plan includes the creation of fifty mini-pitches as part of the ‘FIFA Pitches’ initiative near schools and residential areas, five full-size pitches, a modern academy within the ‘FIFA Academy’ network, and a new national stadium with a capacity of twenty thousand seats.
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Implementation will be distributed across four phases. These include social recovery within three to six months through the creation of mini-pitches and activation of the ‘FIFA for Schools’ program. This will be followed by the construction of five full-size pitches within 12 months. Subsequently, a FIFA Academy and a center of excellence will be established within 18 to 36 months, with the national stadium being built during the same period.
The phases will be implemented according to continuous monitoring of safety and security conditions, with the activation of the first phase beginning as soon as conditions permit.
FIFA
FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the international governing body for association football, founded in Paris in 1904 to oversee international competition. Its primary role is to organize major global tournaments, most notably the FIFA World Cup, which began in 1930.
Peace Council
The Peace Council is a traditional dispute resolution and community governance institution found among various ethnic groups in Ghana, particularly the Akan people. Historically, it served as a council of elders and respected leaders who mediated conflicts, settled legal matters, and maintained social harmony within villages and chiefdoms. Its principles of consensus-building and restorative justice continue to influence local governance and customary law in the region today.
Gaza
Gaza is a coastal city in the Palestinian territories with a history dating back over 3,000 years, having been ruled by various empires including the Egyptians, Philistines, Romans, and Ottomans. It is a densely populated urban center and holds significant cultural and religious importance in the region. In recent decades, it has been the focus of intense political conflict and humanitarian crises.
Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip is a small coastal territory on the eastern Mediterranean, historically part of Palestine and administered by Egypt after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It came under Israeli occupation following the 1967 Six-Day War and has been governed by the militant group Hamas since 2007, existing under a stringent Israeli-Egyptian blockade.
FIFA Pitches
“FIFA Pitches” is not a specific cultural site but a general term for football fields that meet the standards set by FIFA, the international governing body of soccer. These pitches are designed to strict specifications for size, surface, and safety to ensure consistency and fairness in professional matches worldwide.
FIFA Academy
The FIFA Academy is a global football education and training institution launched by FIFA in 2020. It aims to develop elite young players and coaches worldwide, centralizing and enhancing FIFA’s existing youth development programs to foster the sport’s growth.
FIFA for Schools
FIFA for Schools is a global program launched by FIFA in 2019 that aims to make football more accessible to children worldwide by integrating it into educational settings. The initiative focuses on promoting life skills, health, and social development through football-based activities, building on FIFA’s long-standing commitment to using the sport as a tool for positive change.
