Algeria is the first African nation to inaugurate a FIFA Arena mini-pitch, following FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s pledge to install 1,000 such pitches globally to provide more playing opportunities for children worldwide in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The new facility opened on Thursday at Collège Malek Haddad in the East of Algiers, and a second pitch will be inaugurated at Ibn Joubair school, West of Algiers. Together, these will benefit 1,500 kids from schools, grassroots and youth community clubs in the surrounding areas.
FIFA plans to inaugurate 11 Arenas, the Starting Eleven across all six confederations before moving to a global scale. So far FIFA has inaugurated Arenas in Georgia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Armenia. Algeria is the first country in Africa and the fifth beneficiary worldwide.
The mini-pitch installation focuses on urban and rural areas which are missing such facilities. The FIFA Arena project is expected will change the lives of millions of children globally.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino said: “Every child deserves a safe space that allows them to learn, to play, and to grow. That is at the very heart of the FIFA Arena project, and that's exactly what you have given to the children of Algeria.
Our goal is to install at least 1,000 new mini-pitches across the world by welcoming new members of the FIFA Arena family. This will allow generations of children from all over the world, and particularly those from the most disadvantaged urban and rural areas, to play this sport that we all love so much”
The Algeria Football Federation (FAF) president Walid Sadi on his part welcomed “FIFA’s continued support for the development of football in Algeria. The construction of two ‘FIFA Arena’ mini-pitches is a clear demonstration of this commitment, particularly in advancing school football. The Algerian Football Federation also places great importance on school football, which serves as a vital talent pool and a key pillar for the future of our national game.
“FAF is fully engaged in FIFA’s various development programs, especially through the Forward initiative, which has supported the creation of the Tlemcen regional technical centre, ongoing referee training, the introduction of VAR technology, and the organization of the FIFA Series international tournament in 2024.”
For FIFA Deputy Chief Member Association Officer, Gelson Fernandes, the facility represents a key milestone in the development of grassroots football for children in the North African country.
“In a football-passionate country like Algeria, such an inauguration helps pave the way toward excellence and we are proud of that. These children will come here, play, enjoy the game and who knows, some might become the next’s Mahrez or Slimani" said Fernandes, who doubles as FIFA Africa Regional Director.
