IDB Group Launches FIFA Arena in Mexico to Expand Opportunities for Children, Youth, and Families

MEXICO CITY – The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) and FIFA launched FIFA Arena in Mexico, a joint initiative to create eight community mini-pitches and expand opportunities for children, youth, and families through sport in urban and rural communities across Mexico by the end of the year. 

The project combines sports infrastructure with community-based programming focused on education, skills development, social inclusion, and violence prevention. The initiative will promote girls' participation in soccer and support education and social inclusion through sport. The mini-pitches will remain public assets and will host school sports activities, local tournaments, and community programs.  

"Major sporting events create a unique opportunity to invest in people and communities," said IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn. "Through our work of Sports for Development, and with these eight mini-pitches of FIFA Arena, we are helping ensure that the legacy of the World Cup is measured also by the opportunities created for children and young people." 

“Football has a unique ability to bring people together, inspire hope and create opportunities”, said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Through the FIFA Arena program, together with the IDB Group, the FMF and local partners, we are investing in communities and ensuring that the positive legacy of football is felt where it matters most. By investing in children, young people and families, we are creating safe, inclusive spaces where future generations can play, learn and realize their potential.” 

In addition, the IDB Group, FIFA, FIFA Foundation, FIFA Member Association, and the Government of Mexico are partnering to use sport for social impact. Through this broader initiative, more than 100 community sites—including the eight FIFA Arena mini-pitches, Centros PILARES, other mini-pitches, schools, and day centers for older adults—will support programs that strengthen care networks for older adults and promote awareness and prevention of violence against women. 

The launch builds on the IDB Group’s broader Sports for Development agenda. The IDB Group has supported more than 25 Sports-for-Development initiatives across 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, reaching more than 100,000 people. These programs reflect growing evidence that sport can be a powerful platform for social development, helping young people stay in school, strengthen skills, build social connections, and access better opportunities. 

The IDB Group and FIFA are combining FIFA's global reach and experience in football with the IDB's development expertise and presence across Latin America and the Caribbean. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to converting the visibility and energy of major sporting events into lasting investments in people and communities.