Sixteen high‑profile footballers have been named UN Champions, a new cadre of ambassadors tasked with advancing sustainability, gender equality and human rights ahead of the upcoming World Cup. The group includes trailblazers such as Khalida Popal and veteran leader Javier Zanetti, whose careers embody both sporting excellence and social commitment.
The announcement came on World Football Day, celebrated each 25 May and coinciding with the centenary of the first international tournament to feature representatives from every continent. Organisers highlighted how the sport’s global platform can be leveraged to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals.
By turning the pitch into a stage for dialogue, the Champions intend to mobilise millions of fans, converting stadium chants into calls for climate action, improved health outcomes, inclusive education and gender parity. Their messages will travel across continents, amplifying a shared vision of progress.
A diverse coalition of talent
The newly appointed cohort brings together a rich mix of experience, from former World Cup‑winning coaches like Carlo Ancelotti to pioneering women’s footballers such as Eni Aluko and UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina J. Mohammed. Alongside Popal and Zanetti, they form a mosaic that reflects the sport’s universal reach.
Backed by the United Nations, the FFTG Champions programme underscores football’s role as a diplomatic bridge, fostering cooperation and peace while urging societies to adopt the SDGs as a common roadmap for a more equitable future.