ZURICH (AP) — The Swiss government teamed up with FIFA on Thursday, giving 120,000 Swiss francs ($149,000) to help fund the building of community soccer fields in the West Bank.

Switzerland-based FIFA said money from the country’s foreign affairs ministry was for “enabling the construction of the facilities and supporting a broader, long-term commitment to restoring access to football across the region.”

The FIFA statement did not specify or speculate on how the access to soccer pitches was lost.

The fields known as “FIFA Arena” are “designed to be safe, durable spaces for communities that lack access to sport,” the soccer body said. “The initial two FIFA Arena mini-pitches will be paired with a dedicated training program for children, creating safe spaces for play that foster inclusi

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