FIFA leader pledges $50 million to build new soccer stadium in Gaza

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced Thursday that the sport will be donating $50 million to build a new soccer stadium in Gaza as it recovers from Hamas’ war with Israel.The announcement occurred during the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Board of Peace at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. The board is responsible for rebuilding Gaza and features representatives from multiple countries.
President Donald Trump said during the meeting that the U.S. will be donating $10 billion to the board, and nine governments pledged $7 billion toward a Gaza relief package. Five others said they’d deploy troops as part of an international stabilization force.
“We don’t have to just rebuild houses or schools or hospitals or roads,” Infantino said. “We also have to rebuild and build people, emotion, hope and trust. And this is what football, my sport, is about.”
FIFA said the new stadium would hold between 20,000 and 25,000 spectators and the organization will also build a FIFA academy. The FIFA bundle will also include money for 50 mini soccer fields and five full-size fields, according to the Associated Press.
“Football, or soccer, as it is called here, is the world’s universal language,” Infantino said. “It’s about hope. It’s about joy. It’s about happiness. It’s about coming together. It’s about uniting the world.”
The announcement comes despite Gaza lacking a national soccer team, but FIFA has recognized a unified Palestinian squad that represents Gaza and the West Bank since 1998.
The news comes as the United States prepares to co-host the FIFA world cup in June, alongside Canada and Mexico.

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