FIFA urged to harness football's power for peace, health, education beyond World Cup
Following the 2026 World Cup, Hervé Verhoosel—a UN communications adviser with experience in CAR and Rwanda—argues in Premium Times that football's greatest value extends beyond scoring goals to uniting communities and promoting universal values. He cites specific examples: in Bangui, UN peacekeepers organized tournaments where youth from previously conflicting communities played together; in Rwanda, football encouraged school attendance supplemented by WFP meals; across Africa, players supported malaria prevention efforts.
For Nigerians, where football dominates national conversations, this perspective suggests the sport could be leveraged more deliberately to address challenges in health, education, and social cohesion. Verhoosel contends FIFA owes transparency about World Cup decisions and should use its global influence—not for partisan politics but to advance health, education, child protection, gender equality, LGBT respect, peace and sustainable development through an empowered FIFA Foundation.
He warns that allowing political or commercial pressure to undermine FIFA's independence distracts from its mission of using football as a force for the common good. The World Cup champions, he notes, inherit global attention that could inspire positive social change far beyond the tournament.
The piece arrives amid ongoing debates about politics influencing FIFA during recent World Cups, with the author insisting trust in international institutions is built through clear explanations of correct decisions and accountability for mistakes. He concludes that football's true victory lies in making the world "a little fairer, healthier and more peaceful."
When Nigerian football captures national attention, how could that platform similarly promote values beyond match results? What specific health, education, or peace initiatives might benefit from leveraging the sport's popularity?
SOURCE: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/896426-football-is-more-than-a-game-by-herve-verhoosel.html