Algeria has officially become the first country in Africa to unveil a FIFA Arena, marking a significant step in the continent’s grassroots football development.
On Thursday, 8 May 2025, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), in partnership with FIFA, inaugurated the mini-football pitch at Malek Haddad College in Bordj El Kiffan, Algiers.
The initiative is part of a global FIFA project aimed at constructing 1,000 such facilities worldwide, designed to provide young people with greater access to sport while supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event was attended by FAF President Walid Sadi and FIFA’s Regional Director for Africa, Gelson Fernandes, a former Swiss international of Cape Verdean heritage. Both officials hailed the moment as a major milestone for Algerian sport and youth development.
“This is a historic moment for Algerian youth,” said Fernandes during the ceremony, describing the launch as a model for the rest of the continent.
The FIFA Arena, a modern and compact mini-pitch, is specifically designed to be easily implemented in schoolyards and community spaces. It promotes inclusivity and accessibility, two core values of FIFA’s vision for the global game.
A second facility is already underway and will soon open at the Ibn Djobeir College in Chéraga, located in the western suburbs of Algiers.
Together, these two pilot arenas are expected to serve around 1,500 children, including students, local youth clubs, and community sports programmes in the region.
FAF President Walid Sadi emphasised the importance of investing in school-based football, identifying it as a foundational source of future national talent.
“School football is a pool of essential talent for the future of Algerian football,” he said. Sadi also expressed hope that similar projects would be extended to Algeria’s interior regions, ensuring a broader reach across the country’s vast territory.
The FIFA Arena initiative forms part of the world football body’s larger commitment to youth empowerment, education, and social development through sport.
Each of the six football confederations is set to host at least one pilot project before the global rollout. Algeria’s selection as the African host underscores its growing role in shaping the future of football on the continent.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, in a statement released during the inauguration, reaffirmed the organisation’s ambition to democratise access to football.
“Every child, girl or boy, deserves the chance to play football,” he said. “This project is not just about sport—it is about opportunity, education, and community.”
By introducing the FIFA Arena model in Algeria, FIFA and the FAF are laying the groundwork for a sustainable youth football infrastructure that could serve as a blueprint for other African nations.
The launch reflects both a symbolic and practical investment in the power of football to uplift and unite communities. For Algeria, it represents not only a first on the continent but a long-term commitment to nurturing the dreams and talents of its youngest citizens.
L’Algérie 🇩🇿 devient le premier pays Africain a inaugurer un mini-terrain FIFA – Arena ! pic.twitter.com/oktqgCZ66Y
— Lassana Camara (@mauritaniefoot) May 8, 2025
