FIFA Opens Two New Football Arenas in West Bank to Support Palestinian Youth
FIFA has introduced two new FIFA Arena mini-pitches in the West Bank, located in Marah Rabah and Qusin. These venues offer Palestinian children safe spaces to enjoy football amidst ongoing regional challenges.
Boosting Grassroots Football in Palestine
As part of an effort to strengthen grassroots football in the Middle East, FIFA partnered with the Palestine Football Association and received financial support from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs to open these modern mini-pitches. One facility is positioned near the Marah Rabah girls' high school in the Thaher Al Thour area south of Bethlehem, while the other stands in north-western Qusin.
These arenas come at a crucial time when many communities in the West Bank struggle to access education, social services, and organised sports. The project aims to keep football accessible for young Palestinians despite difficult circumstances.
Unite for Peace: Kids’ Cup Launches New Era
To mark the opening, FIFA launched the Unite for Peace: Kids’ Cup, a youth tournament featuring 14 local teams and about 160 children. The competition includes group stages, knockout rounds, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final. Beyond matches, it offers community-focused football activities designed to involve nearby villages and towns.
This tournament is part of the broader FIFA Unite for Peace campaign, which uses football to promote values like teamwork, respect, and fair play. The pitches are already in active use, with a formal inauguration scheduled for September 25, the day the trophy will be presented to the tournament winners.
FIFA President Highlights Football’s Role Amid Hardship
“The value of these FIFA Arena facilities will be measured by what happens on the pitches day in, day out,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “For children living in communities where life is often disrupted by restrictions and uncertainty, having a place where they can play football, meet their friends and take part in organised sport matters more than ever. Particularly as we mark the International Day of Peace, we hope these FIFA Arenas will serve their communities for many years to come.”
His words emphasize how football can provide stability and joy even during tough times, reflecting FIFA’s Football Unites the World mission.
Creating a Long-Term Impact for Palestinian Football
The mini-pitches are part of the global FIFA Arena Programme, which builds durable and safe football spaces worldwide. Alongside the pitches, local communities receive football gear to support training and organised games well beyond the initial tournament.
This initiative supports the Palestine Football Association’s long-term goals to discover and nurture young talent, both male and female. The installations in Marah Rabah and Qusin follow similar projects recently launched in South and North America. Their weather-resistant surfaces and accessible sites ensure heavy use can be sustained.
Locations of new FIFA Arenas:
- Marah Rabah: South of Bethlehem, near Marah Rabah girls' high school
- Qusin: Northern West Bank
Unite for Peace: Kids’ Cup Details:
- 14 local Palestinian teams
- Approximately 160 children participating
- Format: Group stage, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final
- Includes community football activities
