FIFA teams up with Swiss government to fund community soccer fields in the West Bank

The Swiss government teamed up with FIFA on Thursday, giving 120,000 Swiss francs ($149,000) to help fund the building of community soccer fields in the West Bank. (AFP/File)
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Updated 27 November 2025
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FIFA teams up with Swiss government to fund community soccer fields in the West Bank

  • The FIFA statement did not specify or speculate on how the access to soccer pitches was lost
  • Eight more are planned to be installed in Israel and the Palestinian territories as part of the global FIFA Arena project

ZURICH: The Swiss government teamed up with FIFA on Thursday, giving 120,000 Swiss francs ($149,000) to help fund the building of community soccer fields in the West Bank.
Switzerland-based FIFA said money from the country’s foreign affairs ministry was for “enabling the construction of the facilities and supporting a broader, long-term commitment to restoring access to football across the region.”
The FIFA statement did not specify or speculate on how the access to soccer pitches was lost.
The fields known as “FIFA Arena” are “designed to be safe, durable spaces for communities that lack access to sport,” the soccer body said. “The initial two FIFA Arena mini-pitches will be paired with a dedicated training program for children, creating safe spaces for play that foster inclusion and personal development.”

Eight more are planned to be installed in Israel and the Palestinian territories as part of the global FIFA Arena project. FIFA said a total of 30 mini-fields in 15 countries have been opened since March.
“FIFA expresses its deep gratitude to the Swiss government for this important contribution and looks forward to continuing this shared effort to restore, rebuild and bring hope — one pitch at a time,” president Gianni Infantino said.
Infantino attended a global summit on the future of Gaza last month at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. There, he committed FIFA to “help rebuild all football facilities in Gaza and Palestine. We will bring football back in every corner of the country.”
FIFA also is investigating two formal complaints by the Palestinian soccer federation against Israeli soccer.
In October last year, FIFA asked its disciplinary body to study claims of discrimination by the Israeli soccer federation. FIFA’s governance panel was asked to advise if teams from Israeli settlements in the West Bank playing in national competitions breached the governing body’s statutes.
No timetable has been set for the FIFA panels to report back. FIFA’s next congress of 211 member federations is scheduled April 30 in Vancouver, Canada.


Trezeguet brace gives Ahly CAF Champions League victory

Updated 11 sec ago
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Trezeguet brace gives Ahly CAF Champions League victory

Success for the Red Devils in Alexandria opened a three-point lead in Group B for the record 12-time African champions
Ahly have seven points and Young Africans four after three rounds

JOHANNESBURG: Former Aston Villa striker Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan scored the goals that gave Al Ahly of Egypt a 2-0 victory over Young Africans of Tanzania on Friday in the CAF Champions League.
Success for the Red Devils in the Mediterranean city Alexandria opened a three-point lead in Group B for the record 12-time African champions.
Ahly have seven points and Young Africans four after three rounds. JS Kabylie of Algeria and FAR Rabat of Morocco, who meet on Saturday, have one point each.
Young Africans created more chances than Ahly in a cagey first half only to fall behind in the third minute of added time.
A perfect cross from Mohamed Hany was nodded by captain Trezeguet into the corner of the net past Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra.
Ahly stamped their authority on the match in the second half and deservedly increased their lead on 75 minutes.
Slick, one-touch passing set up Trezeguet, who moved across several defenders inside the area before curling the ball into the far corner of the net.
The goals lifted Trezeguet to five in the Champions League this season, level with Brazilian Tiago Reis from Angolan club Petro Luanda at the top of the charts.
Slovenian substitute Nejc Gradisar squandered a good chance to put Ahly even further ahead when he fired wide with only Diarra to beat.
In Group C, Abdelrazig Omer bagged a brace as Al Hilal of Sudan drew 2-2 with former champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in Pretoria in another top-of-the-table clash.
Sundowns, whose lone title came in 2016, and Hilal have five points each, with the South Africans ahead on goal difference.
A victory for either Saint-Eloi Lupopo of the Democratic Republic of Congo or Mouloudia Alger of Algeria in Lubumbashi on Sunday will move the winners within one point of Sundowns and Hilal.
Omer put Hilal ahead on 15 minutes from close range after a run down the wing and pass from Burundian Jean Claude Girumugisha.
Sundowns were level seven minutes later as Brazilian Arthur Sales got behind the Hilal defense and his weak goal attempt trickled into the net.
A thunderbolt from South African international Teboho Mokoena from outside the box on 64 minutes edged Sundowns in front.
But once again a lead lasted only seven minutes. Poor defending by Sundowns enabled Omer to score again and take his goal tally in Africa this season to four.
Hilal substitute Emmanuel Flomo from Liberia was shown a straight red card for striking Khuliso Mudau in the face, leaving the visitors to play with 10 men for the last four minutes of regular time.
A further four matchday three fixtures are scheduled for Saturday, including defending champions Pyramids of Egypt away to Renaissance Berkane of Morocco.