The biggest-ever football World Cup begins on Thursday, across three countries and two continents, with over 100 games. The UN is raising awareness of the game's powerful capacity to serve as a platform for sustainable development and social justice.
The supremely talented Spanish team is one of the main favourites to win the event and its teenage superstar, Lamine Yamal, promises to be one of the tournament's standout performers.
On Thursday, ahead of the first game between Mexico and South Africa, The UN children's agency ( UNICEF ) announced that Yamal has been made its youngest-ever Goodwill Ambassador, focusing on children's right to play and supporting those living in humanitarian emergencies, such as conflict or natural disasters.
Children's rights are a cause close to the Barcelona midfielder's heart. On World Children's Day in 2024, as part of a UNICEF campaign, he wrote a heartfelt letter to his younger brother sharing his hopes for children everywhere.
Last year, he handed his social media accounts to a nine-year-old girl from Equatorial Guinea - his mother's home country - allowing her to share with the world her daily life experiences, far from the glamour of Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium.
Yamal's appointment was announced on the International Day of Play , marked annually on 11 June. UNICEF has revealed that more than 90 million children under the age of five do not have any playthings such as store-bought toys, household objects or other simple resources for play at home, while 80 million children aged two to four do not play with a parent or caregiver at home.
Scoring (sustainable development) goals
On the eve of the event, the UN released a study showing how football can help to change lives for the better and drive progress towards a fairer world.
The report examines the growing impact of the Football for the Goals initiative, which brings together clubs, associations, businesses and civil society to support sustainable development.
The UN initiative encourages organisations in the football world to align their activities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a blueprint to end poverty, reduce inequality and build a better future for all by 2030.
Reaching those most in need
Data gathered from participating organisations show that football-based projects are making a difference in disadvantaged communities.
Many initiatives focus on reducing inequality, improving access to education and healthcare and supporting partnerships that bring people together. Examples include creating safe spaces for young people, empowering women and girls and supporting community wellbeing.
By tapping into football's popularity, organisations are able to engage people who might otherwise be difficult to reach, turning enthusiasm for the sport into positive action.
With just a few years left to achieve the SDGs, the report underlines the need for innovative approaches that deliver results on the ground. Football, it suggests, offers a unique opportunity to unite people and drive progress in ways that are both practical and inspiring.
