Global Citizen and FIFA have announced the first round of grant recipients from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, selecting 27 grassroots organizations across 10 countries to receive awards ranging from USD $50,000 to $250,000. These grants will support initiatives that expand access to quality education and sports for children in underserved communities worldwide.
The Fund, which aims to raise USD $100 million by the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, has already secured over USD $30 million through contributions from philanthropies, corporations, individual donors, and proceeds from major sporting and music events. The selected organizations are collectively reaching tens of thousands of children, many in regions where poverty rates exceed 60 percent and fewer than 15 percent of students complete secondary school.
Grantees include diverse initiatives such as the Antonio Rudiger Foundation in Sierra Leone, Autisme Rwanda, Beyond Soccer in the USA, Canada Scores, Eduplex NPC in South Africa, and Fundación Tiempo de Juego in Colombia. Each organization combines education with sports and community engagement, addressing barriers to learning while fostering resilience, leadership, and opportunity.
Applications are now open for the second cycle of grants, inviting organizations worldwide to apply for funding between USD $50,000 and $250,000. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized football’s power to unite and inspire, while Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans highlighted the life-saving impact of education for children in extreme poverty. Founding donors include MetLife Foundation and Bank of America, with additional support from Cisco, FIFA events, and proceeds from global music tours.
Half of the funds raised will be allocated to FIFA’s Football for Schools programme, advancing life skills and community development through football. The grantees were selected through a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process to ensure credibility, impact, and accountability, with ongoing monitoring to track results.
