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This document lays out a plan to further modernise the football world, make it increasingly inclusive and pave the way to a landscape in which, one day, we will have around 50 national teams and 50 clubs from all continents at a top competitive level. This is a vision to make football truly global.
Qatar 2022
Whenever a young player generates hype, there’s always a degree of doubt as to whether it is founded or whether we’re all getting a little ahead of ourselves. In Jonathan David’s case, there is real hype and it is based on a stack of legitimate, jaw-dropping statistics.
David turned 20 just over three months ago and with 28 goals for club and country in 2019 he became Canada’s highest-scoring forward over the last 20 years. At the age of 19, he won the golden boot at the Concacaf Gold Cup (six goals – a Canada record) and was named Canadian Player of the Year by the member association. We’ll say it once more: he was 19.
FIFA.com chatted exclusively with David, whose pure love of playing the game was summed up clearly in his response to what his greatest challenge is during the COVID-19 pandemic. “For me, it’s just not playing football.”
Whenever a young player generates hype, there’s always a degree of doubt as to whether it is founded or whether we’re all getting a little ahead of ourselves. In Jonathan David’s case, there is real hype and it is based on a stack of legitimate, jaw-dropping statistics.
David turned 20 just over three months ago and with 28 goals for club and country in 2019 he became Canada’s highest-scoring forward over the last 20 years. At the age of 19, he won the golden boot at the Concacaf Gold Cup (six goals – a Canada record) and was named Canadian Player of the Year by the member association. We’ll say it once more: he was 19.
FIFA.com chatted exclusively with David, whose pure love of playing the game was summed up clearly in his response to what his greatest challenge is during the COVID-19 pandemic. “For me, it’s just not playing football.”
Right now we’re in a good place. This is possibly the most talented group from Canada of all time, or at least for a long time.
Women's Football
There is nothing you can tell Inka Grings about football that she does not already know. The former striker scored 64 goals in 96 caps for Germany and won the UEFA Women’s EURO with her compatriots in 2005 and 2009. As well as helping her national team to lift the trophy, her finishing prowess also ensured that she was top scorer at both tournaments.
Having made history as a player, Grings has already done the same thing as a coach. After spending three years in charge of the women’s team at MSV Duisburg, she moved to Viktoria Koln, where she coached the men’s U-17 side.
Since April 2019 the six-time Bundesliga top scorer has been at the helm of SV Straelen, making her the first woman to coach a men’s team in Germany’s top four divisions. In fact, before the COVID-19 enforced break, her side were 19 points clear at the top of the table.
Not only that: before the COVID-19 enforced break, her side were 19 points clear at the top of the table. Nevertheless, Grings is not interested in focusing on her gender, or seeing herself as a pioneer, as she told FIFA.com.
There is nothing you can tell Inka Grings about football that she does not already know. The former striker scored 64 goals in 96 caps for Germany and won the UEFA Women’s EURO with her compatriots in 2005 and 2009. As well as helping her national team to lift the trophy, her finishing prowess also ensured that she was top scorer at both tournaments.
Having made history as a player, Grings has already done the same thing as a coach. After spending three years in charge of the women’s team at MSV Duisburg, she moved to Viktoria Koln, where she coached the men’s U-17 side. Since April 2019 the six-time Bundesliga top scorer has been at the helm of SV Straelen, making her the first woman to coach a men’s team in Germany’s top four divisions.
Not only that: before the COVID-19 enforced break, her side were 19 points clear at the top of the table. Nevertheless, Grings is not interested in focusing on her gender, or seeing herself as a pioneer, as she told FIFA.com.
It’s crazy that people don’t think outside the box and ask themselves what a woman can bring – regardless of the role. After all, women and men work together harmoniously and extremely effectively in wider society. Why can’t the same apply to football?
Women's Football
Like countless people around the world, Spain coach Jorge Vilda has had to adapt to the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic and is secluded at home with his family these days.
"Work hasn’t really changed much. We’re still getting used to not being at our headquarters and having to work from home... whenever the kids allow it, of course," he says, laughing.
After La Roja’s fine performance at the #SheBelieves Cup, Vilda and his coaching staff are taking advantage of the mandatory football shutdown to analyse match footage and hold video-conference meetings as they plan to "continue improving the team", which currently sits 13th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's Ranking.
It also gave him time to chat exclusively to FIFA.com about the team’s rich vein of form as well as the work being undertaken to continue their upward trajectory and deal with the growing expectations of their fans.
Like countless people around the world, Spain coach Jorge Vilda has had to adapt to the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic and is secluded at home with his family these days.
"Work hasn’t really changed much. We’re still getting used to not being at our headquarters and having to work from home... whenever the kids allow it, of course," he says, laughing.
After La Roja’s fine performance at the #SheBelieves Cup, Vilda and his coaching staff are taking advantage of the mandatory football shutdown to analyse match footage and hold video-conference meetings as they plan to "continue improving the team", which currently sits 13th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's Ranking.
It also gave him time to chat exclusively to FIFA.com about the team’s rich vein of form as well as the work being undertaken to continue their upward trajectory and deal with the growing expectations of their fans.
No one demands more of the team than we do, and the players themselves. We go out to win every game, every championship. We can already feel the expectations created by the team’s fine performances, and we know that if we qualify for the European Championship, that will be ratcheted up even more.
Ranking remains static as the world fights Covid-19
Discover
Belgium
Pts. 1765
France
Pts. 1733
Brazil
Pts. 1712
England
Pts. 1661
Uruguay
Pts. 1645
Croatia
Pts. 1642
Zambia soar as tournaments, qualifiers make their mark
Discover
USA
Pts. 2181
Germany
Pts. 2090
France
Pts. 2036
Netherlands
Pts. 2032
Sweden
Pts. 2007
England
Pts. 1999
As the world’s number one sport, football is uniquely placed to strengthen initiatives that can improve the lives of young people around the world.
The Football Association
Mental health takes centre stage in England
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
Men's Ranking #4
Women's Ranking #6
