On Monday, a distinguished group of current and former football players and coaches were appointed as informal ambassadors to champion sustainability, gender equality, inclusion, and human rights. The appointed figures represent the elite of global men’s and women’s football.
The roster includes accomplished individuals such as managerial maestro Carlo Ancelotti, a winner of league and cup titles, Eni Aluko, a Women’s Super League and Serie A champion, Inter Milan icon Javier Zanetti, and Khalida Popal, an exiled player from the Afghan women’s national team.
Football’s Unparalleled Reach
Recognized as the world’s most popular and accessible sport, football’s vast reach provides a uniquely powerful platform for communication, connecting with diverse audiences across regions, generations, and communities.
During the launch of the Football for the Goals (FFTG) initiative in 2022, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed highlighted the sport’s influence, stating, “The United Nations recognises the powerful voice football carries in the global community and the role it can play in raising awareness of the SDGs through the popularity of the game.” She further emphasized, “Not only is football the most popular sport in the world, it is also the most accessible.”
Celebrating World Football Day
The announcement of the FFTG Champions coincided with World Football Day, observed annually on May 25. This date was selected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the inaugural international football tournament that included representation from all regions, held in 1924 during the Paris Summer Olympics.
In May 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution establishing World Football Day, acknowledging football’s global influence on peace and diplomacy and its capacity to foster cooperation.
Football’s widespread popularity and accessibility have established it as a potent tool for public engagement on critical issues, including climate action, health, education, inclusion, and gender equality. It is within this context that the FFTG Champions program was established.
