FIFA's continued support has helped the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) create better conditions for players, clubs and communities across the country, according to LFA President Hachem Haidar, who points to a decade of stadium rehabilitation projects and grassroots initiatives delivered through FIFA's programmes.

“FIFA’s continued support has been instrumental in the development of football in Lebanon and in helping the Lebanese Football Association create better conditions for players, clubs and communities across the country,” he said. “Through FIFA’s programmes and initiatives, we have been able to invest not only in the development of the game, but also in football infrastructure and grassroots initiatives that serve as a foundation for the sustainable growth of the sport.” Among the clearest, tangible examples of this support, Haidar said, is FIFA's contribution to the rehabilitation of stadiums in cities and towns across Lebanon.

“Over the years, FIFA has supported the rehabilitation of Jounieh Stadium, Safa Stadium, Al Ahed Stadium, Bir Hassan Stadium and Salam Zgharta Stadium, significantly improving the facilities available to players and teams,” he added. “More recently, this support has extended to the rehabilitation and development of Tyre Municipal Stadium, Majdel Baana Stadium and Jamal Abdul Nasser Stadium.” Haidar said the projects were about more than bricks and mortar, helping to reconnect the game with communities across the country.

“These projects are particularly important as they provide players and teams with improved, safer and more modern facilities, while also helping to bring football closer to communities across the country,” he said. FIFA's involvement in Lebanon has also extended into grassroots and educational football. In 2019, the country was selected to host the pilot project for FIFA Football for Schools, staging two festivals that introduced hundreds of children to the game.

“In 2019, Lebanon was selected to host the FIFA Football for Schools pilot project, through which we organised two major festivals, one in Beirut and another in Mazraat el-Chouf. “The festivals were attended by FIFA Legends and brought together around 700 children, giving them the opportunity to experience football in an engaging and inclusive environment. This initiative demonstrated the power of football as a tool not only for developing sporting skills, but also for promoting education, teamwork, inclusion and positive values among children.”

Reflecting on the scale of FIFA's involvement, Haidar said the combined effect of the projects amounted to a long-term investment in the country's football community rather than a series of isolated initiatives. “These projects demonstrate the concrete impact of FIFA’s support on the ground,” he said. “They are not simply investments in football facilities or individual events; they are investments in the future of Lebanese football, creating better environments for players to train and compete, encouraging young people to participate in the sport, and strengthening the connection between football and communities throughout Lebanon.

“We are deeply grateful to FIFA for its ongoing commitment to the Lebanese Football Association and to football development in our country,” Haidar concluded. “This partnership gives us the confidence to continue investing in our infrastructure, strengthening our competitions and grassroots programmes, and creating new opportunities for the next generation of Lebanese footballers. We look forward to continuing this important collaboration with FIFA and to building on these achievements to further develop football throughout Lebanon.”