global citizen And fifa Today the first round of grant recipients from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund were announced. 27 grassroots organizations from 10 countries around the world have been selected to receive awards ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 to advance their vital work providing children in disadvantaged communities access to quality education and sports.
FIFA Global Civic Education Fund The goal is to raise $100 million USD by the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to expand access to quality education and football for children around the world. To date, the Fund has raised over USD $30 million with contributions from philanthropies, major brands and corporations, individual donors and proceeds from the sale of tickets for major music and sporting events, including the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ and the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The first group of FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund grant recipients reflects both the scale of need and the potential for impact around the world. The selected organizations are collectively reaching thousands of children globally, some working in contexts where less than 15 percent of students complete secondary school and where poverty rates exceed 60 percent, underscoring the urgency of targeted investment. By supporting proven models that combine education, sport and community engagement, the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is helping to expand access to learning, improve education outcomes and create pathways to opportunity for children in some of the world's most disadvantaged communities.
The first group of organizations to receive grants from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund include:
● Antonio Rudiger Foundation (Sierra Leone)
Linking football-based programs with education, health support and infrastructure development to enable children to learn, grow and overcome barriers to success.
● autism rwanda (Rwanda)
Supporting children with autism and their families through education, therapy and advocacy, promoting inclusion and improving quality of life.
● beyond football (USA)
Using football as a gateway to academic success, leadership and career preparation, providing ongoing support from childhood through adulthood.
● canada score (Canada)
Integrating football, poetry and education to promote physical health, literacy and social-emotional learning while building leadership and self-expression.
● Eduplex NPC (South Africa)
Integrating deaf and hearing students through auditory-verbal therapy and
Technology-supported education enables deaf learners to participate fully in school life. ● Eland School (South Africa)
Providing early education for Khomani San children, blending the curriculum with indigenous knowledge, language preservation and community engagement.
● Emmanuel Development Association (Ethiopia)
Promoting empowerment and resilience in vulnerable communities through education, health, child protection and livelihood programmes.
● Field of Dreams Academy (USA)
Preparing girls to become leaders in their communities by integrating STEM education with sports programs, fostering confidence, purpose and learning.
● Fundación El Origen (Colombia)
Using technology and gamification to help disadvantaged youth develop the academic, social and vocational skills needed to access employment.
● Fundación Caris (Colombia)
Expanding access to education in communities affected by poverty, displacement and social exclusion through value-based education, nutrition and psychosocial support.
● Fundación Tiempo de Juego (Colombia)
Combining football, art, technology and education to build leadership, resilience and life skills, helping young people escape violence and build positive futures.
● Grand River Friendship Society (Canada)
Supporting newcomers and low-income families by combining academic support, sports and mental health services to promote inclusion and belonging.
● hit the books (USA): Combining tuition, mentorship and mixed martial arts training to build academic skills, physical confidence, discipline and personal development.
● ignite durham (Canada)
To provide resources such as food, clothing, and money to support the well-being, sustainability, and long-term success of students who face socio-economic challenges.
● Instituto Rede Tennis (Brazil)
Using tennis and education to create opportunities in disadvantaged communities, providing free training and educational support to youth.
● Knysna Education Trust (South Africa)
Improving early childhood development in marginalized communities through training, resources, and support for teachers and preschools.
● MLSE Foundation Toronto (Canada)
Integrating sports with education, mental health and career preparation to create opportunities for youth to succeed.
● our bright future (USA)
To provide STEAM education, financial literacy, health and wellness and life skills programs for disadvantaged youth.
● Scientist (USA)
Integrating science, technology and sports-inspired activities to equip youth with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.
● School on Wheels (USA)
Supporting students experiencing homelessness through tutoring, mentoring, and resources to overcome instability and succeed academically.
● SDGs promise to Japan (Japan, Africa)
To advance sustainable development and reduce poverty, particularly in Africa, in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
● skateistan (South Africa)
Using skateboarding and creative education to help students, especially girls, build confidence and resilience to tackle social and economic challenges.
● smile mass (USA)
Improving the lives of individuals with disabilities through inclusive entertainment, education-adjacent programming, and community engagement.
● spark wheel (USA)
Providing academic, social and practical supports to help students stay engaged, succeed in school and build brighter futures.
● street soccer usa (USA)
Fighting poverty and strengthening communities through free programs that combine sports, education and life skills for youth experiencing homelessness and hardship.
● ubuntu fs (Japan)
Using sport, culture and social engagement to support community development, rooted in the philosophy of Ubuntu – “I am because we are”.
● YMCA Mexico (Mexico)
Empowering youth, especially girls, to develop leadership skills and access new opportunities through education, health and sports-based programs.
More information about the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund and the inaugural grantees is available here globalcitizen.org/education-fund-grantees
Applications for the second round of grants from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund are now open. Organizations providing access to education and sports for children in disadvantaged communities around the world are invited to apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 USD. globalcitizen.org/education-fund-apply
“Football has the power to unite, inspire and create lasting change, and through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, we are putting that power into action to invest in the future of children around the world,” he said. FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “These organizations are doing extraordinary work, often in the most challenging environments, to ensure children have access to the education and life skills that football provides. Together with Global Citizen, we are committed to expanding this impact and helping many more children realize their potential.”
“For children growing up in extreme poverty, access to education is not only life-changing, it is also life-saving,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder and CEO, Global Citizen. “The impact of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is far-reaching – beyond the lives of young people in classrooms and playgrounds, into these communities, where their quality of life will be improved and the cycle of poverty will be broken. I heartily congratulate our first grant recipients and express my gratitude for their remarkable work.”
“MetLife's partnership with Global Citizen and the MetLife Foundation's support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund exemplify our commitment to building a more confident future for all,” said. Nuria Garcia, Global Head of Sustainability Chairman of MetLife and MetLife Foundation. “By supporting the Fund, we are helping local organizations increase access to education and sports for children, while strengthening communities around the world.”
“We are extremely honored to play a role in an initiative of this scale and purpose – which has the potential to transform lives and expand access to education for children around the world,” he said. Joseph Marak III, CEO of Foundation Source. “For more than 25 years, we have maintained that impactful philanthropy requires more than good intentions. Strong operational and compliance infrastructure is the cornerstone that allows generous gifts to reach those who need it most.”
Founding donors to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund include the MetLife Foundation and Bank of America, which also serves as the bank of record for the fund. Other contributors include cisco and ticket sales from FIFA.
Club World Cup 2025™, FIFA World Cup 2026™, and FIFA Collect. Additionally, all proceeds from tickets sold for The Weeknd's 'After Hours Till Dawn' Tour and Usher and Chris Brown's 'R&B' Tour will be donated to Live Nation as a thank you.
Non-fiduciaries join the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund Advisory Board Hugh Jackman, The Weeknd, Ivanka Trump, Gianni Infantino, Hugh Evans, Serena Williams, Shakira, Kaka And Bank of America co-chairman jim de mare.
Half of the money raised will be allocated to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) ProgramAn initiative that advances life skills, learning and community development through football around the world.
The first group of FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund grant recipients were selected through a highly competitive, multi-tier process designed to ensure credibility and impact. All applications were subject to a rigorous assessment framework developed by Global Citizen and jointly administered with Foundation Source, which included eligibility screening, compliance verification and extensive due diligence prior to any disbursement. Continuous monitoring and spot checks will ensure accountability and results throughout the grant period. Grant recipients benefit from a single platform to manage their relationships with global citizens, from application through grant agreement and reporting, simplifying administrative processes so organizations can stay focused on their work. More eligibility criteria details can be found Here.
About Global Citizen
Global Citizen is the world's largest movement to end extreme poverty. Powered by a worldwide community of advocates who raise their voices and take action everyday, the movement is enhanced by campaigns and events that convene leaders from music, entertainment, public policy, media, philanthropy, and the private sector. Since the movement began, more than $50 billion of commitments announced on global citizen platforms have been implemented, impacting the lives of 1.3 billion people. Founded in Australia in 2008, Global Citizen operates in the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, UAE and across Asia. join this movement global citizen.org, download global citizen app, And follow Global Citizen tiktok, Instagram, youtube, Facebook, x And LinkedIn.
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