Why 'World Football Giving Day' matters

"There's so much to feel helpless about in the world. But actually, we're not helpless. Like we can take action and we can take action through the love of something that does unite us."

Connor is a former professional athlete herself who co-founded Soccer Without Borders prior to her involvement in Common Goal. She understands the power of the game to bring people together.

There is the story of her time in Ninh Binh, Vietnam. "I go to a little bodega. I buy a football. The next day, I'm there juggling with my friend, also a woman. Suddenly, the whole town starts to come out. People are watching. Men join in and play," says Connor.

"Football can challenge assumptions. All of the qualities that would make me other or different or even somebody to be scared of or questioning of, they fade away because now we're literally connected. We're literally playing together.

"And that has happened to me in dozens of countries and sometimes not even when I'm playing, just by talking to somebody in a cab. 'Who is your favourite team? Oh, I am here for the football.' I think it is just that spark of connection."

There is the example of Nicaragua, a country with one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Latin America, where half of children do not pass sixth grade. "Football can address that," says Connor. By organising girls' football, it has been possible to change things.

"When girls play football, they take such ownership of their bodies. When boys see girls playing football, they see them not just as someone that they want to get involved with in a relationship, but someone who is their peer. It can literally change these things.

"There are thousands of creative ways in our network that people are doing that. They're using coaches to teach about HIV AIDS prevention, malaria, mental health. They are tackling gender-based violence, climate action.

"All of these issues that we know are facing humanity, I guarantee you there's an organisation out there that's found a way to use football to educate, to inspire, to mobilise people to take action."

Image: The first World Football Giving Day is being launched and will take place on May 26th 2026

Connor appreciates that in some respects, despite us never being more connected, the world can feel more divided than ever.

But nothing unites like football.

"We have a Football for Good organisation in Israel, in Palestine, in Eastern Europe, in Colombia. What else other than football reminds us that we are people first. Above language, above culture, above skin colour, all of it, we are people with something in common."

This summer represents a pivotal moment. Launching in the lead-up to the World Cup and aiming to build on UN World Football Day - declared by the United Nations and marked on May 25 - World Football Giving Day intends to become an annual event.

"Our goal is for this to be the start of a tradition and to grow year on year to mobilise resources to where they're most needed.

"And for it to unify."

To take action, head to World Football Giving Day website (www.worldfootballgivingday.org) to donate to any of the 100+ non-profits registered or think of your own way to give back in your local community or globally.

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