FIFA and its Partners join forces for social development

World football’s governing body FIFA and its six Partners adidas, Coca-Cola, Emirates, Hyundai/KIA, Sony and Visa are joining forces to further sustainable social development through football. The resulting projects will strengthen FIFA’s ongoing social responsibility programmes and offer the partners an innovative and sustainable approach to corporate social responsibility.

Football is played by millions of people around the world. As the guardian of the game, FIFA – with its 208 member associations – has a responsibility that does not end with organising the FIFA World Cup and developing the game itself. FIFA is also committed to social development and in 2005 strengthened its mission to build a better future by drawing up a social responsibility strategy, establishing a Corporate Social Responsibility Department and creating the Football for Hope movement.

Through this new and closer collaboration with its Partners in the area of corporate social responsibility, FIFA will be able to further strengthen its social programmes and provide additional support to community-based organisations all over the world. Reciprocally, the diverse and innovative programmes and initiatives under the umbrella of the Football for Hope movement will offer concrete and tailor-made opportunities for the FIFA Partners to engage in social development through football.

“This strategic new area of activity reinforces the important cooperation between FIFA and its Partners. What is more, it provides our Partners with the ideal platform to sustainably strengthen our joint mission to ‘build a better future’,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.

The Football for Hope movement, which will be a cornerstone of this new area of collaboration, aims to use the power of football for social change. Since its creation in 2005, it has brought together, strengthened and supported community-based organisations and their programmes all over the world. The support includes financial resources, infrastructure, training, capacity-building and know-how exchange on various topics such as education, health promotion, peacebuilding, social integration and the environment.

With its many successes on the ground, its global reach and the strong commitment of its founders, the Football for Hope movement has become an attractive platform for the public and private sectors, civil society and multilateral development institutions to invest sustainably and develop innovative partnerships for social development.