Kenya to benefit from the new Fifa Arena programme

Gelson Fernandes during the presentation on Thursday in Rabat / ERICK NJIRU

Kenya is set to benefit from the Fifa Arena programme, which is being rolled out globally for the second time this year as part of Fifa President Gianni Infantino’s vision to establish at least 1,000 new mini-pitches worldwide for children.

The Fifa Arena initiative aims to create safe and inclusive spaces that provide children and young people with access to football, education, and positive social interaction within their communities, particularly across Africa.

In Kenya, plans are in their final stages to establish a technical centre in Machakos, fully funded under the Fifa Forward 3.0 programme for the 2022–2026 cycle.

Speaking to a group of journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations at Fifa’s new regional office in Rabat, Fifa Chief Member Associations Officer Gelson Fernandes encouraged African federations to apply for the Fifa Arena programme.

“There is specific funding for the Fifa Arena, but member associations must also participate in the groundwork to ensure they have a suitable facility to receive the mini-pitch,” said Fernandes.

“This groundwork cannot be financed using Fifa Forward money. It is up to the federation, or with support from their government, to prepare the site. Once that is done, Fifa comes in.”

The objective of the programme is to transform school football mini-pitches into vibrant community hubs through the Fifa Arena legacy plan—bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds while promoting social cohesion, physical activity, and community development.

“We work closely with all federations. They submit applications, we review them together, assess pricing based on our tenders, and determine what is feasible,” Fernandes added.

In 2025 alone, 166 Fifa Arena mini-pitches were committed across 60 countries, benefiting more than 500,000 children. A further 220 mini-pitches are scheduled for construction in 42 countries by the end of the second quarter of 2026, with up to 1.2 million children expected to benefit by 2027.

Several African countries have already benefited from the Fifa Arena programme, including Rwanda, Djibouti, Seychelles, and Morocco.

By 2031, with over 1,000 mini-pitches established worldwide, more than 3 million children across 1,000 schools and communities are expected to benefit directly from the Fifa Arena initiative.