FIFA Arena

The FIFA Arena is a global infrastructure project launched by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to provide children and youth in disadvantaged areas with safe, accessible, and high-standard football facilities. This initiative was first pledged by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on 25 July 2024 at the International Summit on Sport for Sustainable Development held in Paris, France, and was officially launched at the 75th FIFA Congress in Asunción, Paraguay, in May 2025. Under the project, at least 1,000 mini football pitches are planned to be constructed worldwide by the time of the FIFA Congress in 2031. The primary objective of this initiative extends beyond merely providing physical infrastructure; it aims to harness football as a tool for social integration, educational development, equal opportunity, and physical well-being. Through these pitches, located at the heart of schools and local communities, young people are given the opportunity to develop their football talents and promote grassroots football. During implementation, the project has been integrated with educational activities such as the Football for Schools program, and various strategic partnerships have been established with local governments, ministries of education, and international institutions.

Corporate Background and Base Technologies

FIFA’s institutional approach to pitch quality and field management has undergone significant transformation alongside its expansion. In 2016, FIFA employed 64 staff members; by subsequent years, this number had grown to over 1,200, with authority over pitch research and management being centralized within the organization rather than delegated to host countries. Particularly during preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA directly funded evidence-based turf and field research for the first time under the leadership of experts such as Dr. John C. Sorochan. As part of these studies, a lower limb testing device named fLEX was developed to measure pitch homogeneity, playability, and player safety. The device can generate wear maps of pitches within hours by analyzing the interaction between different types of football boots and the playing surface. Additionally, a 5,000-square-meter indoor research facility was established to test various turf types and artificial lighting requirements in enclosed environments.

FIFA’s high-standard, technology-driven vision for pitches in elite tournaments has been mirrored in the FIFA Arena project. Through one of its global suppliers, CCGrass, the mini pitches have been equipped with a synthetic turf system called “Leap,” which combines flat and double-layer curly fibers without the need for infill material. This technology has been selected to reduce maintenance costs and enhance sustainability.

Pitch Concepts and Infrastructure Features

Two distinct pitch concepts have been implemented under the FIFA Arena project: permanent educational pitches and temporary (mobile) event pitches. Permanent pitches are typically constructed near state schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods with the aim of delivering long-term social benefits. The average installation cost of a FIFA Arena pitch has been set at approximately 50,000 US dollars. Equipment specifications for permanent pitches vary according to regional needs; in Turkey, for example, solar panels and changing rooms have been integrated alongside traditional designs.

The temporary (mobile) pitch concept has been designed as short-term platforms installed at strategic and symbolic locations to introduce football and create immediate safe playing spaces. The first example of this mobile pitch was installed at Place de la Concorde in Paris, France, and operated for three days. A similar temporary pitch initiative was also implemented in Birmingham, United States.

Regional Implementations Globally

The FIFA Arena project has rapidly expanded across six continents and been implemented in multiple countries.

North and South America

The first FIFA Arena in South America was constructed in Luque, Paraguay. Two mini pitches built in the vicinity of Colegio Nacional E.M.D. "Gral. José Elizardo Aquino" and Colegio Silvio Pettirossi have been made available to over 2,600 students. The first pitch in the United States was opened on the site of the Powell Steam Plant in Birmingham, Alabama, as part of the 2026 World Cup initiatives. This pitch was developed through a partnership between the United States Soccer Federation, Birmingham Legion FC, KultureCity, Roc Nation, and US National Team player Chris Richards. A second pitch in the United States is planned for Oakland. Additionally, a pitch has been completed in Costa Rica as part of the expansion in Latin America.

Asia and Oceania

The first FIFA Arena project in Asia was implemented in Thailand. The initiative has rapidly expanded across the Asian market, with new pitches opening in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In Bhutan, a pitch was inaugurated on 28 February 2026 at Loseling Middle School in the capital Thimphu, with the participation of Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck. A similar facility has also been commissioned at Tendruk Central School in Samtse. One of the first openings in Oceania took place in Fiji.

Europe

In France, a three-day event pitch was installed at Place de la Concorde through collaboration with Impulstar, an organization that runs youth activities in the Paris suburbs. The French Football Federation (FFF) plans to extend the project to overseas territories, constructing pitches in La Réunion and Mayotte, regions affected by cyclone disasters. In Türkiye, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Turkish Football Federation, an initial target of 60 pitches was set; as of April 2026, 11 pitches have been completed, primarily in areas affected by the earthquake. The first enhanced version of the pitch, featuring solar panels and changing rooms, was inaugurated at the Spor Toto Organization Middle School in Riva, Istanbul.

Africa

In North Africa, the project has been implemented through a broad agreement with the Moroccan government and local institutions. In January 2026, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), in accordance with a contract signed between the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports and OCP Group, committed to constructing 30 FIFA Arenas nationwide. The first pitch in Morocco opened in Meknes in November 2025, followed by a specialized workshop in the capital Rabat to define the project’s long-term strategies and its integration into the national curriculum.

Supporting Programs and Social Vision

The FIFA Arena initiative has been implemented not merely as a construction project but alongside complementary subprograms that support access to football equipment and education. During the opening of the pitch in Paris, a new pilot project titled “Boots for All” was introduced, with an initial target of distributing 20,000 pairs of football boots to disadvantaged children. FIFA has also provided training vests, footballs, and pedagogical educational materials to schools in the areas where the pitches are installed.

The use of these physical spaces has been integrated into local curricula through alignment with FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme and initiatives promoting women’s football. Students and teachers have been actively involved in the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities, reinforcing a strategy to enhance a sense of belonging and social cohesion. Sponsorship agreements with civil society organizations and private sector representatives such as Impulstar, KultureCity, Roc Nation, and OCP Group have supported the sustainability of local activities. This initiative, aimed at strengthening grassroots football on the path to elite tournaments like the World Cup, is regarded as an institutional manifestation of FIFA’s broader goal of generating sustainable social benefit through sport.