What we do
Connect, strengthen & grow football for good
We connect and support a global community to strengthen ecosystems and expand safe, high-quality opportunities for youth through football.
Power collective
action
We unite athletes, organisations, brands, and institutions to align resources and turn football’s cultural power into collective impact.
Inspire system
change
We elevate stories, evidence, and visibility to shift mindsets, influence systems, and unlock greater recognition for football for good.
Football Can,
and we will.
Football has the power to change lives. And when played collectively, it becomes one of the few cultural forces capable of uniting humanity around a shared vision, reminding us of our power to transform the world.
About football for good
Too often, when people hear “football for good,” they picture something “not professional.” They think of something softer, smaller, or secondary to the “real” game. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Football for good is the game changing lives, often quietly, but powerfully.
And it is one of the most under-utilized sources of knowledge, expertise, and creativity in the entire sport. It’s a living laboratory of solutions that the wider world could learn from, especially at a time when many are searching for connection, hope, and meaning.
From informal kickabouts to structured community programs, football supports education, improves health outcomes, advance gender equality, build peace, and develop life skills. The game becomes a safe space, a classroom, and a meeting point—bringing people together and opening pathways to stronger, more inclusive communities.
This is football beyond the final whistle. Football that changes lives.
Connecting, growing & strengthening football for good
Since 2002, Common Goal has helped surface, connect, and strengthen a global community of organisations using football for youth empowerment and social transformation — mobilising €150 million into the field and creating opportunities for collaboration, visibility, learning, and capacity development.
Today, the Common Goal Community includes 201, engaging 3.6M young people in football for good programmes and reaching up to 9 million people across 117 countries.
A Vetted Community
Every member of the Common Goal Community undergoes a rigorous vetting process, ensuring trusted partners with high-quality programmes and strong local roots. Common Goal’s quality implementation criteria are recognised by football governing bodies, institutions, and partners across the sector. Organisations seeking to join complete a structured application process, enabling alignment with the values, principles, and standards that define the community.
Discover our Community
Meet some of the organisations driving change through football — helping young people everywhere play, learn, and thrive.
201
Community
Organisations
117
Countries
12K
Global Workforce
3.6M
Young People Engaged
9M
People Reached
How we supported the Community in 2025
€7.4M
mobilised to support the Common Goal community
105
organisations accessed funding, learning and collaboration opportunities
80%
of members received visibility opportunities
5
publications — including open resources, toolkits and research
97%
of our members recommend being part of the Common Goal community
Powering collective action
We bring together community organisations, purpose-driven athletes, brands, institutions, and allies from across and beyond football to unlock the game’s transformative potential through collective action.
Issues we care about
Grounded in the priorities of the football for good community, we work together to accelerate progress on some of the biggest challenges of our time, such as gender inequality, racism, climate change, inclusion and mental health — driving meaningful change towards an even playing field for all, from the ground up.
1% Pledge: Leadership within the game
Launched in 2017, the 1% pledge links the success of football with meaningful social impact. More than 500 stakeholders, including 200+ pro athletes and partners such as adidas and FOX Sports, have taken the pledge, mobilising over €15M for football for good initiatives worldwide.
Inspiring everyone to lead change
We grow recognition and visibility to shift mindsets across and beyond football. By elevating athlete voices, activating cultural moments, and creating spaces for dialogue and learning, Common Goal inspires individuals and institutions to lead the change they want to see.
Athlete advocacy and leadership
Activating football's biggest cultural moments
Convening the ecosystem
Through global convenings, industry gatherings and community-led forums, we bring together diverse voices to reimagine how football can contribute to an equal playing field.
