Football brings the world together, while education helps create opportunities for future generations.
Expanding access to education is the focus of a new program from Global Citizen and MetLife.
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, which begins on June 11, the two announced the launch of Footwork For Futures, a global social-first video challenge supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
Together with FIFA and Global Citizen, MetLife is helping turn the universal passion for soccer (or football, for those outside the US) into a global force for education, ensuring that every child, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Getting involved is simple: Global Citizens and football fans can take a video of themselves juggling a ball, share it on social media using the hashtag #FootworkForFutures, tag @GlblCtzn, and can tag a few friends do the same, should they wish to keep the challenge going. For every video submitted, MetLife will donate an additional $5 to the Fund, up to $100,000.
Global Citizens can take action on the Global Citizen App via the 'Footwork for Futures' journey to learn more about sport and education initiatives and enter for a chance to win exclusive Global Citizen merchandise.
Changing the Game
It's estimated that more than 250 million children are currently out of school or lack access to basic education. That's approximately one in six school-aged children.
The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund aims to help change that. Financing from the Fund has been and will continue to be granted to grassroots education programs and organizations in over 200 countries worldwide, in addition to investments into community development and learning through the sport around the world, through Football For Schools (F4S), a joint FIFA and UNESCO program.
MetLife is already a core part of the Fund. The MetLife Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the leading global financial services corporation, became a founding donor of the fund in September at the Global Citizen Festival, when they announced the commitment of $9 million to the Fund, on the Global Citizen stage in Central Park.
Nuria Garcia, Global Head of Sustainability for MetLife and Chair of the MetLife Foundation, shared: "MetLife's partnership with Global Citizen, and MetLife Foundation's support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, exemplifies our commitment to building more confident futures for all."
"By supporting the fund, we are helping local organizations expand access to education and sports for children while strengthening communities around the world," she continued.
The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund will be a key area of discussion at Thursday's Global Citizen NOW in New York City - and how the organization and its partners will focus on expanding educational access.
Global Citizens and football fans can join MetLife by taking part in the challenge now through the date of the World Cup Final on July 19, and by taking action on the Global Citizen App or pledging their own donation to the fund via the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund website.