World football governing body, FIFA, on Monday inaugurated two mini pitches in schools in the Margibi and Montserrado counties in Liberia in partnership with the Liberia Football Association.

Funded entirely thanks to the FIFA Forward program – 750,000 USD - this new pitch will give Liberia’s men’s, women’s, and youth national teams a professional training and match-ready surface, while opening the stadium to school leagues, grassroots festivals, and community football activities year-round.

The FIFA Arena project will provide every boy and girl who wants to play football with a safe space to learn, play and grow, impacting the lives of millions of children. It will help ensure generations of children around the world, particularly those in disadvantaged urban and rural areas, will have the chance to enjoy playing football in good conditions.

The inauguration was attended by Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations officer/Regional Director Africa, Jeror Cole Bangalu- Minister of Youth and Sports, Geraldine Janet George (Rtd.), Minister of National Defence and Davidson Fayiah Forleh, Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of Liberia.

“I’m thrilled to see the youth of Liberia inaugurate these FIFA Arena mini pitches today. These brand-new, sustainable spaces offer children from Margibi and Montserrado counties a safe and inspiring environment to play and grow through football. Liberia holds a special place in the global football community, thanks to the legendary Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, who put the nation on the world map. I’m confident that among the young players here today, some will follow in his remarkable footsteps. These pitches are more than just playing surfaces; they are platforms for dreams to take flight. On behalf of FIFA, I wish every young Liberian success on and off the pitch. We stand proudly alongside the Liberia Football Association to create even more opportunities for the future.” Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Deputy Chief Member Associations Officer/Regional Director Africa.

More than 3000 kids will directly benefit from these two new artificial surfaces installed.

The FIFA Arena project envisages the installation of mini-pitches globally, following the pledge made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Sustainable Sports Summit in Paris in July 2024 to benefit children globally, to provide more playing opportunities for children worldwide in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In a related development, Gompa Stadium also witnessed a facelift; a FIFA-standard artificial turf, modern drainage and irrigation systems, powerful floodlights, and upgraded stands is turning it into a reliable, all-weather football venue for Liberia.

The project will boost local businesses through more matches, tournaments, and visitors, create jobs during construction, and put Liberia on the map as a serious contender to host regional and international football events.

FIFA Forward is the largest and biggest sport development program in the world. It was created back in 2016 when President Infantino was elected. The idea is very simple and clear: to redistribute FIFA's revenues equally among the 211 Member Associations. In line with its strategy to make football truly global, by the end of 2026, FIFA will have invested a record-breaking figure of USD 5 billion in football.

Georgia was the first of 11 FIFA Member Associations to install and open the pitches. In Africa, Algeria was the first country to benefit from it, opening 2 mini pitches in the capital city, benefiting more than 1500 kids. Liberia is the second one.

The project is now being rolled out worldwide with the goal of putting in place at least 1000 new mini-pitches globally by 2031.