April 13 – As part of the process of making football more accessible to children and strengthening the sport’s grassroots foundation, the Turkish leg of the ‘FIFA Arena’ project had its official opening ceremony at the Spor Toto Assembly Middle School in Beykoz.
The event was attended by Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and Turkish Football Federation (TFF) President İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu.
Launched globally by FIFA in 2025, the FIFA Arena initiative aims to build at least 1,000 accessible football pitches across 100 countries by 2031. The project focuses on fostering both athletic and social development among youth.
In Turkey, 11 pitches have been completed to date, with a primary focus on regions affected by the devastating February 6 earthquakes. Notably, the newly inaugurated pitch in Beykoz is the first in the programme to feature integrated solar panels and modern dressing rooms.
TFF President İbrahim Ethem Hacıosmanoğlu expressed immense pride in hosting the FIFA delegation and emphasised the symbolic timing of the opening, as the Turkish National Team prepares for its first World Cup appearance in 24 years.
“Today, we are not just opening a football field. We are opening a home where dreams, hopes, and success stories will grow,” Hacıosmanoğlu stated. “These investments will prepare the ground for the role models and stars of tomorrow. We have planned 60 FIFA Arena mini-fields in our country, but we expect even more.”
Hacıosmanoğlu specifically thanked Infantino for FIFA’s support in the earthquake zones, noting that these pitches serve as vital community meeting points that help children overcome trauma through the “unifying power of football.”
Regarding the infrastructure project, Infantino hinted at an expansion of the original goals for the region.
“We planned 60 pitches in Turkey, but as the President mentioned, perhaps this number could reach 100. We can achieve this together,” Infantino said. “Most importantly, we are providing the opportunity for children to play football in a safe, healthy environment.”
Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak highlighted the Turkish government’s massive commitment to sports infrastructure, noting that under the direction of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the ministry has already constructed nearly 4,000 neighborhood pitches across the country.
Bak expressed high confidence in the current generation of players and head coach Vincenzo Montella, drawing parallels to the legendary 2002 World Cup squad.
“We believe from the bottom of our hearts that we will make our nation proud once again. We trust this generation,” Bak said.
The Minister also noted Turkey’s growing status as a global sports hub, referencing the upcoming co-hosting of EURO 2032 with Italy, and the hosting of the 2026 Europa League and UEFA Conference League finals.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at [email protected]