Monday’s critical meeting in Egypt where world leaders agreed to a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and peace plan in Gaza featured an unlikely attendee: FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Invited by his friend U.S. President Donald Trump, Infantino declared that the global governing body will help rebuild soccer facilities in Gaza.
“It’s something that is really important for FIFA to be here to support, to help, to assist, to put ourselves at disposal for whatever we can do to make sure that this peace process comes to fruition and to the best possible end,” Infantino said.
Following the peace talks, 20 hostages held by Hamas and more than 2,000 prisoners and detainees held by the Israel Defense Forces were released to their families.
The soccer president laid out a loose plan for FIFA’s involvement going forward, saying the organization will “help to rebuild all the football facilities.” Working with the Palestinian Football Association, FIFA plans to build pitches, provide equipment and coaches, organize matches, and establish a fund to rebuild soccer infrastructure, Infantino said.
“Football’s role has to be to support, has to be to unite, has to be to give hope in the region,” he said.
The Palestinian sports community has been hit hard by Israeli bombing and airstrikes. The PFA said this summer that more than 400 soccer players have died in the conflict that has damaged or destroyed close to 300 sports facilities, including the PFA headquarters. Soccer legend Suleiman Obeid, known as “the Palestinian Pelé,” was killed in August while trying to receive aid. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah drew attention to the nature of Obeid’s death by responding to UEFA’s tribute post for the player with the question: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
The PFA has urged FIFA to suspend Israel from international competition, as it did for Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. UEFA nearly ousted Israel last month, but it halted those plans awaiting Trump’s peace talks. Israel plays Italy on Tuesday in a World Cup qualifier that is expected to draw more protesters than fans. Israel has been effectively banned from the world championships for gymnastics this weekend because host country Indonesia won’t give its athletes visas.
