Football for the Goals


Football for the Goals is a United Nations initiative that provides a platform for the global football community to engage with and advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is an opportunity to build on football’s powerful and influential reach and to work together to become agents of change by aligning messaging, strategies and operations with the aspirations of the SDGs.

This initiative will inspire and guide the world of football – from confederations, national associations, leagues and clubs, to players’ associations, organized fan groups, as well as media and commercial partners – to build on existing sustainability approaches and to implement SDG strategies that lead to behavioural change.

Members may not only aspire to develop sustainable practices, but may also act as champions of the SDGs during the Decade of Action (2020-2030). Members will use their visibility and outreach power via tournaments, players, corporate brand exposure, media and fan communities to raise the profile of the SDGs through amplification and advocacy. They will inspire action by demonstrating how these sustainable practices can be mainstreamed through any business model, including sport.

Read the full press release to learn more about Football for the Goals. For a full list of members visit our Members page.

Members of Football for the Goals commit to:

Members* of Football for the Goals commit to the following principles across their business practices and in their advocacy with stakeholders, as well as media and commercial partners and sponsors:

  1. Sustainability policies and practices
  2. Implementing and advocating for the SDGs
  3. A human rights-based approach, including in addressing issues of discrimination and avoiding discriminatory practices
  4. Equality and equity, including gender
  5. Climate action

If you are interested in joining Football for the Goals, please submit this application form for consideration. Further details on the process can be found on the form.

Apply today

 

*Membership in the FFTG initiative does not imply the official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations of the names, appellations and/or other designations employed by members of the FFTG initiative to refer to countries, territories and other geographical areas.

 

 

Watch the launch of Football for the Goals

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Football for the Goals encourages the global football community (confederations, federations, clubs, players, fans, and others participating in the football ecosystem) to use its own visibility and outreach power via its tournaments, its players, corporate brand exposure, media rights holders and fan communities to raise the profile of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through amplification and advocacy. Members commit to the principles of sustainable development and to mainstreaming sustainable practices throughout their businesses and activities.

The initiative welcomes confederations, national associations, leagues and clubs at all levels, players’ associations, organized fan groups, as well as media and commercial partners and any other organization active in the world of football. Discover who has already joined Football for the Goals.

While Football for the Goals aims to be as inclusive as possible and seeks membership from a diverse, global group of football stakeholders, there are established criteria for membership. This includes:

  • - Football must be a central component of its work.
  • - Must be a legal entity in the country/state where it is based.
  • - Must be applying on behalf of an organization, not as an individual.
  • - The application must be endorsed by the executive head of the entity, or their designate.
  • - Must have an official website. Any other links, such as social media accounts, cannot be accepted in lieu of an official website.

Please note, while this is a baseline set of criteria for applying, they don’t guarantee membership into FFTG. Each application is individually reviewed and considered and additional factors and due diligence are included in the acceptance process.

You can learn more about who joined Football for the Goals by visiting our Members page. Membership in the FFTG initiative does not imply the official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations of the names, appellations and/or other designations employed by members of the FFTG initiative to refer to countries, territories and other geographical areas.

The initiative is voluntary and not legally binding.

There is no fee to join the initiative.

You will hear within 10 weeks whether your application has been accepted or if additional information is needed. Once your application is accepted, you can start addressing any of the commitments according to your organization’s priorities. We’re eager to hear from you. Let us know about your progress using #FootballForTheGoals on social media.

After being accepted as a member of the Football for the Goals initiative, you can download the Football for the Goals logo and branding and put it on your website or use it in any of the ways outlined in the branding guidelines.

In addition to using the Football for the Goals logo, we also encourage you to use the SDG communications materials available here.

You can put the Football for the Goals logo on your website or in other ways outlined in the branding guidelines to show that you are part of the initiative. In addition, we will list all members on this website and update it on a regular basis.

We encourage you to share with us initiatives you take to implement the SDGs and Football for the Goals by emailing us at footballforthegoals@un.org or by using the hashtag #FootballForTheGoals.

We encourage you to share the link to the Football for the Goals website and/or our email footballforthegoals@un.orgwith any stakeholder in the football ecosystem you think may be interested in becoming a member. Football for the Goals is a global initiative that strives to be both diverse and inclusive.

In case your organization would like to withdraw from Football for the Goals, please contact us at footballforthegoals@un.org.