WHAT WE DO
From the ground up
A young person’s life is local. Childhood happens on neighbourhood pitches, with coaches and organisations who know them by name — so that’s where lasting change starts. That’s why Common Goal works from the ground up.
We strengthen the people and organisations closest to young people, and connect them into a global movement.
We bring partners, funders, athletes and new sectors together around shared priorities, so football for good achieves more together than anyone could alone.
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.
Growing the community
Since 2002, Common Goal has surfaced, connected, and strengthened a global community of organisations using football for youth empowerment and social transformation.
Today, Common Goal brings together 212 vetted football for good organisations active in 127 countries, engaging 2,2 Million young people in football programmes and reaching over 11 Million people across communities globally.
Connecting, growing & strengthening football for good
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212
Community
Organisations
127
Countries
2.2M
Young People Engaged
11M
People Reached
Strengthening those closest to young people
No two members are alike. Our community spans hyper-local organisations rooted in one neighbourhood and networks active across continents. We help members grow their impact by responding to what they tell us they need most, and bring them together so that local work becomes part of a global movement.
Since our inception, we have mobilised €150 Million into football for good and created opportunities for collaboration, visibility, learning, and capacity development.
What we enabled in 2025:
€7.4M
unlocked for football for good in 2025.
84% of members rank funding as their top priority for our support.
105
Organisations accessed funding, learning and collaboration opportunities.
53% say access to potential partners is what they value most.
5
publications in 2025, including open resources, toolkits and research.
46% of members value knowledge and learning among the benefits of being part of the community.
80%
of members received visibility opportunities in 2025.
42% of members name visibility as a key benefit, and it ranks among their top three priorities overall.
Stronger together
The Common Goal Community is more than a network. It’s where organisations find partners, share what works and take on challenges together.
96%
of members would recommend being part of the Common Goal Community
77% worked directly with at least one other community member in 2025
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.
Equal Play Effect
Launched in 2020, Equal Play Effect is a global collective initiative to accelerate gender equity across football for good communities, both in the game and through the game. It is currently active in Brazil, working with local organisations to build a lasting legacy for girls and women ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.
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.
