Published: August 6, 2025
Margibi County – The Liberia Football Association (LFA), in partnership with FIFA, is pushing ahead with the global football body’s Arena Project, marking a major step forward for grassroots football development in Liberia.
Soil base work has been completed at two project sites: the Bible Way Mission School compound along the Roberts International Airport Road and the Edward Binyah Kesselly (EBK) Barracks in Schieffelin. The next phase, the installation of FIFA-certified synthetic turf, is expected to begin shortly.
The initiative, which will see the construction of two mini-football pitches measuring 20 by 40 meters each (7-a-side), is part of a pilot program backed by FIFA to promote youth football in schools and local communities. Liberia is one of just 11 member associations selected globally for the pilot phase.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has championed the Arena Project, has set an ambitious goal of building more than 1,000 mini-pitches worldwide, with an emphasis on accessibility, safety, and inclusion.
“These facilities are more than just football fields,” said LFA officials during the launch. “They are investments in our youth, our communities, and the future of Liberian football.”
At the EBK Barracks, the pitch will serve students of the Linda Thomas-Greenfield Preparatory School, which enrolls over 400 pupils from the surrounding area. Once completed, the pitch is expected to become a vital hub for physical education, organized training, and informal play for both boys and girls.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Maj. Gen. Davidson Forleh, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, thanked the LFA and FIFA for choosing the EBK Barracks as a project site. He pledged the military’s full cooperation during the construction phase and committed to the long-term upkeep of the facility.
“We see this not only as a sports infrastructure project but as a community-building initiative,” Maj. Gen. Forleh said. “The Armed Forces stand ready to support its development and ensure it serves generations to come.”
The Bible Way Mission School, the second beneficiary site, also anticipates that the mini-pitch will enhance student engagement and athletic training in a safe and modernized environment.
As work continues on the Arena Project, LFA officials say the goal is to use these initial installations as proof-of-concept models, demonstrating how targeted infrastructure investment can help transform youth football nationwide.
The LFA has pledged transparency and accountability throughout the project, noting that the mini-pitches will be monitored under FIFA’s development program benchmarks and Liberia’s national grassroots strategy.
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