World Football Giving Day Launches

Football’s first-ever global giving moment

On 26 May, football will come together in one shared moment to give back.

That is the idea behind World Football Giving Day: a new annual moment for the global game to turn some of its reach, energy and influence outward in support of communities beyond the pitch.

More than 100 organisations have already signed up to take part in the first edition, backed by leading partners adidas and Right to Dream, and championed by figures from across the game including Jürgen Klopp, Juan Mata, Vivianne Miedema, Dani Olmo, Irene Paredes, Serge Gnabry, Sofie Junge Pedersen and Jessie Fleming.

Together, they are helping launch what aims to become football’s first-ever global giving moment.

A new moment for football to give back

World Football Giving Day is built on a simple idea: football can be more than spectacle alone.

It can also be a force for generosity, solidarity and collective action.

At a time of growing global division, and in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, World Football Giving Day will create a recurring annual moment where players, clubs, brands, organisations and fans come together around one shared act: giving back.

Participation is designed to be open and flexible. People can donate, show up, use their platforms, mobilise their communities or support organisations already doing vital work through football.

The ambition is to create a recognisable moment in the football calendar — a day that belongs to the whole game.

Football shows its heart

At the centre of the initiative is a simple expression: the hands heart gesture.

Paired with the call to action #WeAreIn, it is a symbol of connection, care and shared commitment — a way of marking the moment football shows its heart.

That line sits at the centre of the campaign for a reason.

Because, while football reaches billions of people around the world, the opportunities and support it creates are still not evenly distributed. Across the Common Goal network and far beyond it, organisations are using football every day to change that reality — creating safer spaces, advancing gender equity, strengthening social cohesion, supporting mental health and opening up opportunities for young people and communities too often left behind.

On 26 May, World Football Giving Day is a chance to show up for them.

More than 100 organisations already involved

The scale of early support points to the appetite behind the initiative.

More than 100 organisations from around the world have already registered to take part, signalling strong early momentum behind what aims to become football’s equivalent of a global giving day — a moment with the long-term potential to grow into something as recognisable in its own space as Giving Tuesday.

These organisations are already using football as a tool for community transformation every day. World Football Giving Day is designed to bring greater visibility, support and collective backing to that work.

Voices from across the game

A number of prominent figures from across football are already championing the initiative.

“Football has an incredible power to bring people together — not only in stadiums, but in communities everywhere,” said Jürgen Klopp. “World Football Giving Day is a reminder that the game we love can also create opportunity and hope. It’s about showing that football has a heart, and that together we can make a real difference.”

Vivianne Miedema said: “Football has given me so much — my team, my community, my purpose. Supporting World Football Giving Day means giving back to the organisations working every day to support young people and communities who don’t always have the same opportunities. I’m proud to stand behind it and help amplify what’s possible when we give together.”

For Juan Mata, the initiative is a natural extension of the giving movement that has grown across football in recent years.

“Through my work with Common Goal, I’ve seen how collective action can empower communities and channel the passion of the game toward real social impact,” he said.

“World Football Giving Day builds on that same spirit, creating a moment where the whole football community can unite, not for wins on the pitch, but for the wellbeing of people off it. I’m proud to support it.”

Built on the foundations of the 1% pledge

World Football Giving Day is powered by Common Goal and builds on the foundation of the 1% pledge — the idea that those who benefit most from football can commit part of their earnings or influence to community-led change.

Since 2017, more than 500 players, coaches and stakeholders have taken the pledge, contributing more than €15 million to support community-led organisations around the world, reaching more than 120 organisations and backing more than 20 projects over the past nine years.

Mary Connor, CEO of Common Goal, said: “We believe football is more than a game — it is a global culture with the power to shape society. World Football Giving Day is about bringing the game together around a shared moment of generosity and ensuring that people everywhere can be part of something bigger than themselves.”

The initiative also builds on the momentum of UN World Football Day, marked on 25 May, turning recognition of football’s global significance into visible action.

Backed by adidas and Right to Dream

The first edition of World Football Giving Day is supported by Common Goal partners adidas and Right to Dream.

Ashley Czarnowski, Head of Global Purpose Marketing at adidas, said: “We’re excited to be part of World Football Giving Day and support an initiative with the potential to drive transformational impact. By inspiring participation and enabling support at scale, it can create a ripple effect that accelerates impact for communities around the world. It shows what’s possible when the global football community comes together to give back.”

Dan Dickinson, CEO of 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.”

A new fixture in the football calendar

The long-term ambition is clear: to make 26 May a permanent fixture in the football calendar.

A day that creates space for a different side of the game to be seen.A day that backs the organisations and communities already using football to build something better.A day that reminds the game what it can be when it turns outward.

On 26 May, football will come together around a shared set of values — community, generosity, inclusion and care — and show what is possible when the game gives something back.

To take part, visit worldfootballgivingday.org to support one of the 100+ registered organisations, or find your own way to give back in your local community or beyond.