Saturday 07 May 2022, 08:00

FIFA Foundation Football for Schools launches in Guam

  • Approximately 400 children from schools across the island attend special ceremony

  • The event coincided with Guam’s annual grassroots festival

  • FIFA Football For Schools is now active in nine Member Associations

The FIFA Foundation has launched Football for Schools in Guam, as it continues to spread its reach across every corner of the globe. In the presence of the Governor of Guam, Lou Leon Guerrero, approximately 400 boys and girls from schools across the island attended the ceremony – before breaking away to participate in a series of small-sided games.

FIFA Foundation CEO Youri Djorkaeff said: “Today’s launch symbolises a collaboration that embodies the Vision of FIFA to make football truly global; a collaboration that unites our global community further still through our shared passion; and a collaboration that highlights, once again, football’s unique ability to make a positive impact on society in every corner of the world. “It is with great delight that I welcome our friends and colleagues in Guam into the Football for Schools family, and I look forward to working with you all on many more exciting events in the future.”

The inauguration in Guam is the latest in a series of recent launches for the FIFA Foundation’s flagship football development programme, as it strives to achieve FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s Vision of making football truly global, and using the global game to positively influence society across the world.

The FIFA Foundation recently started Football for Schools projects in Chile – the first in South America – in Mauritania – the first in Africa – in Guyana – the first in the Concacaf region – in Mongolia and, just before the FIFA World Cup draw – also in Qatar. The initiative, run by FIFA in collaboration with UNESCO, aims to contribute to the education, development and empowerment of around 700 million children globally, and seeks to make the sport more accessible to both boys and girls around the world by incorporating football activities into the education system.