FIFA President Gianni Infantino has launched FIFA Arena in Lebanon and met senior community and football leaders, including Lebanese Football Association (LFA) President Hachem Haidar, to plan future development initiatives during a visit to the country.

Mr Infantino, who was granted Lebanese citizenship in November 2025 and received his passport on his most recent visit in February this year, was joined by His Eminence Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Muna, the Sheikh Akl, the leader of the Druze community in Lebanon, Mr Haidar and other dignitaries as they officially opened the first FIFA Arena mini-pitch in Chanay in the Mount Lebanon region.

“I’m very happy to be here today and I’m absolutely really happy because, as you know, Lebanon is home. Lebanon is my country, like it is your country, and to be here in Chanay, in Mount Lebanon to inaugurate this first FIFA Arena, the first of many FIFA Arenas. We have three in the plan already but will make many more, many more. It’s really special,” said the FIFA President as he inaugurated the mini-pitch, which will benefit the local community and schoolchildren in particular, and will soon be joined by FIFA Arenas in Niha and Halba.

”Our responsibility is to give them opportunity, our responsibility is to give them hope, our responsibility is to give them a future. And we are here for that, because football unites the world, and we want to work to unite the world. We want to work together for the future of these children, for peace, for unity, for coming together in joy and happiness.”

Mr Haidar said: “Over the years, FIFA has played an important role in supporting Lebanese football through programmes and projects aimed at developing the game, as well as assistance to rehabilitate football infrastructures across Lebanon. But our meeting today is completely different, as we are celebrating a project that directly reaches our communities and, most importantly, the lives of our children.”

His Eminence Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Muna, the Sheikh Akl, added: “We thank you for this pitch. It may be small in size, but it carries great meaning and great dreams. We hope we can develop it and develop this relationship step by step. We certainly hope this relationship will remain strong and lasting.”

The mini-pitches are part of the FIFA Arena initiative that aims to establish at least 1,000 such facilities globally by 2031 and increase accessibility for underprivileged local communities and children. The latter have been a central focus of the LFA, who joined Puerto Rico as the two FIFA Member Associations (MAs) in the pilot phase of the FIFA Football for Schools programme in 2019. The LFA has also implemented the FIFA Talent Development Scheme with a view to maximising Lebanese talent and improving national team standards.

Alongside on-pitch development, the LFA has invested funding from the FIFA Forward Programme into renovating stadiums around the country with three – Tyre Municipal Stadium, Majdel Baana Stadium and Jamal Abdul Nasser Stadium – currently undergoing work. They form part of the LFA’s ongoing strategy that includes further collaboration with FIFA to create a new centrepiece of the country’s football ecosystem.

“This project, supported by FIFA, has now reached the final stages of study, so that work can begin on a facility that includes a football stadium and a training centre, and the headquarters of the Lebanese Football Association,” explained Mr Haidar.

“From here, we extend our highest expressions of appreciation and gratitude to the International Federation of Association Football, represented by its President, Mr Infantino, for his continued support for Lebanese football. We also extend our thanks to the Asian Football Confederation for its similar support to the Lebanese Football Association. And I will take this opportunity to announce that the Lebanese Football Association stands with you, Mr President, and supports you.”

Mr Infantino, who held talks with the LFA President and LFA General Secretary Jihad El Chohof, added: “This is a big project, it will be a symbol of the new Lebanon, of a country that the whole world loves, but a country that is looking into the future, into a bright future with all of us, all Lebanese from all over the world helping and contributing to it.

“A stadium, a technical centre, a future, women's football, men's football, girls’ football, boys’ football, schools’ football and academy that we should do as well here in Lebanon, and simply continuing to invest in this beautiful place, in this beautiful country.”