A New Mini Football Pitch Installed by Hatko Opens in Bishkek as Part of FIFA ARENA Project

On May 10th, a new mini football pitch was inaugurated on the grounds of Secondary School No. 91 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as part of the global FIFA ARENA initiative. The opening ceremony was attended by students and teachers of the school, Vice President of the Kyrgyz Football Union Dastanbek Konokbayev, FIFA representative Andrey Vashkevich, and Janibek Orozaliev, the governor of Bishkek's Oktyabr district.

The mini pitch was delivered as a full turnkey project by Hatko, a FIFA-licensed synthetic turf manufacturer. Hatko was responsible for the production and installation of the entire system, including the non-infill artificial turf, perimeter panel and profile fencing, goalposts and nets, as well as all associated materials and labor.
“The FIFA ARENA project is not just about building pitches—it’s about giving children around the world the opportunity to be part of the global football community. We are honored to be among the first countries to implement this initiative,” said Dastanbek Konokbayev, Vice President of the Kyrgyz Football Federation.
The FIFA ARENA project is a global initiative launched in 2024 by FIFA to build high-quality, safe mini football pitches for children and young people around the world. Kyrgyzstan was selected as one of 11 pilot countries for the launch phase of the project, which aims to build over 1,000 such pitches globally.

One of the most innovative aspects of the project is the use of non-infill synthetic turf systems that eliminate the need for rubber granules, ensuring safer and more environmentally friendly playing conditions. All pitches are built to comply with FIFA's latest technical and sustainability standards.

In Kyrgyzstan, the project is being implemented under the leadership of the Kyrgyz Football Union. Two sites in Bishkek—at Secondary Schools No. 91 and No. 60—were selected for the pilot phase. With the new pitch at School No. 91 now operational, the second pitch at School No. 60 is set to open soon.

The FIFA ARENA initiative significantly enhances school sports infrastructure and lays a solid foundation for expanding the program to other regions of Kyrgyzstan.