Right to Dream: Lead partner of WFGD

Accelerating the growth and expansion of football for good and shaping the next chapter 

As football prepares to come together for the first-ever World Football Giving Day on May 26, this moment is not only defined by a shared vision, but by the people and partnerships that have helped to build it. 

Among them, Right to Dream stands as a lead partner in bringing this ambition to life — supporting a global moment designed to turn football’s cultural power into collective action. 

Dan Dickinson, CEO Right to Dream, said: "Right to Dream was built on the idea that talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. This initiative, that we are proud to support, is a great way to accelerate the opportunities and pathways created by the power of football on and off the pitch.” 

The journey of Common Goal and Right to Dream began in 2022, rooted in a shared belief that football can be a force for opportunity, connection and long-term change. From the outset, the ambition was clear: to maximise the game’s contribution to young people and to the communities at its heart. 

Central to this journey has been the personal commitment of Sir Mohamed Mansour, whose contribution has helped bring this partnership to life and accelerate Common Goal’s mission globally. That support has contributed to the expansion of the football for good community — growing the network of organisations and strengthening this community with resources capacity, connection and visibility opportunities. Today, this global network of more than 200 member organisations across 117 countries engages an estimated 3.6 million young people every year, up from 150 member organisations in 90 countries and 1.4 million when the partnership started.  

Alongside this growth, the investment has helped mobilise funding to the field, strengthen grassroots organisations, and accelerate Common Goal’s role as an enabler of collective action. More than supporting individual projects, this partnership has demonstrated what becomes possible when investment is directed towards transformative, system-level impact.  

Over the past four years, the investment has also supported the development of the Purpose Entrepreneurship Program, a joint initiative by Common Goal and Right to Dream helping purpose-driven individuals in football to turn their bold ideas into lasting societal impact through funding support, mentorship, tailored workshops and guidance from experts. The programme has helped to level up incredible ideas that disrupt the status quo – from empowering young farmers to creating opportunities for differently-abled individuals, to tackling youth unemployment through skills development, promoting sustainability and recycling, fighting malnutrition through innovative food systems, and creating income opportunities for women in rural communities in Ghana.   

Mary Connor, CEO of Common Goal, said: “This partnership has been instrumental in helping Common Goal grow into a more connected and scalable movement, with community at its heart. It unlocked an evolution from a network to the Home of Football for Good, challenging us to consider new pathways and collaborations to advance the sector.” 

What makes this partnership distinctive is its depth. This is not only about supporting projects, but about strengthening and growing the football for good sector — while embedding purpose structurally within football. 

That approach has long been part of the Right to Dream community. As early as 2018, FC Nordsjælland, the first Right to Dream professional team, introduced an opt-out 1% contribution model across player and staff contracts, demonstrating how giving back can be built into the fabric of a club. This model has since helped inspire others across the game, including Oakland Roots SC and Werder Bremen. 

At the same time, the continued growth of the Right to Dream community — from its academies to clubs such as FC Nordsjælland and San Diego FC — reflects a broader shift in football: one where purpose is not an add-on, but foundational. 

Few individuals sit more naturally at the intersection of this story than Juan Mata — Honorary Board member of Common Goal, co-founder of the 1% pledge and long-time advocate for giving back, and an investor in San Diego FC. 

“I’m incredibly grateful for the belief and investment that Right to Dream has brought to Common Goal,” he says. “Their model shows what football can look like when purpose is built into its core. I have a lot of trust in what they are building, and I’m proud to be part of that team.” 

This journey now enters its next chapter. 

Right to Dream’s support is helping enable World Football Giving Day — a new global initiative designed to establish giving back as part of football’s culture. Taking place annually on May 26, the day brings together players, clubs, brands, media and fans in one coordinated moment to support initiatives creating opportunities around the world. 

Comparable in ambition to Giving Tuesday, but rooted in football’s unique reach and influence, World Football Giving Day aims to become a lasting fixture in the global calendar — mobilising the game’s global audience and turning attention into action. 

In this context, Right to Dream’s role goes beyond participation. It reflects a commitment to shaping what this moment can become — not just a campaign, but a catalyst for how football shows up for communities worldwide. 

Because World Football Giving Day is not starting from zero. It is building on years of work, belief and partnership. 

And it is through partnerships like this — where purpose is embedded, scaled and shared — that football can truly show its heart.