On May 26, the world of football will unite for a common purpose with the inaugural World Football Giving Day. This groundbreaking event is supported by over 100 organizations and prominent figures in the sport, including Jurgen Klopp, Juan Mata, and Vivianne Miedema, as well as partners like adidas and Right to Dream. The idea is to harness the power of football to bring people together and make a positive impact, especially in a time of increasing global division.
World Football Giving Day is an extension of the Common Goal initiative, which was launched by Mata in 2017 and has inspired over 500 football figures to pledge 1% of their salaries to support projects around the world. Common Goal's CEO, Mary Connor, emphasizes the importance of collective action and the role football can play in shaping the world for the better. Connor believes that football has the unique ability to transcend borders, languages, and cultures, and to unite people in a way that few other things can. She points to examples of how football has been used to address social issues, such as teen pregnancy and gender-based violence, and to promote education, health, and environmental awareness.
With the support of the football community, World Football Giving Day aims to become an annual event that mobilizes resources and inspires people to take action. To get involved, people can visit the World Football Giving Day website to donate to one of the registered non-profits or to find their own way to give back in their local community or globally.