In a world where 250 million children remain outside the reach of formal education, FIFA and Global Citizen have chosen the world's most-watched sport as a lever for change — committing to raise $100 million by the 2026 World Cup final to bring learning and football development to over 100,000 children across more than 200 communities. The initiative, already $30 million toward its goal, reflects a growing conviction that the grandest global stages carry an obligation beyond entertainment. When the beautiful game pauses at halftime in 2026, it will pause, for the first time, with something to
FIFA, Global Citizen Launch $100M Education Fund for World Cup 2026
250 million children globally lack access to basic education; the fund aims to provide quality education access to over 100,000 children.
Football as a school of life, using the values of the game for growth
Mark
So FIFA and Global Citizen are raising $100 million by the 2026 final. What's the actual mechanism here—how does the money flow from ticket sales into classrooms?
Mimi
FIFA is donating $1 per ticket sold at major tournaments, starting with the Club World Cup 2025 and continuing through 2026. Half the total goes to FIFA Football for Schools, which operates in 211 member associations. The other half presumably supports broader education initiatives through Global Citizen's networks.
Luke
That's clear on the FIFA side, but the source doesn't specify how Global Citizen allocates its portion or what the governance structure looks like between the two organizations. We know they've raised $30 million already, but we don't know the breakdown—how much came from ticket donations versus other sources.
Mark
Why is the halftime show at the final such a big deal? Isn't that just entertainment?
Mimi
It's the first-ever dedicated halftime performance at a World Cup final, so it's a symbolic moment. Global Citizen is using it as a platform to put education access in front of a global audience—billions of people watching. It's not separate from the fund; it's the same message amplified.
Luke
Right, but the source doesn't explain what Global Citizen will actually do during that halftime show or how it connects to the fundraising. We know it's happening, but the mechanics of how a performance drives donations or awareness aren't detailed.
Mark
The fund mentions 211 FIFA member associations. That's more than the UN. Why does that number matter?
Mimi
It signals reach. FIFA Football for Schools will operate in more countries than the United Nations has member states, which means the program can theoretically touch children in virtually every corner of the world where football is played or organized.
Luke
True, but the source doesn't clarify whether all 211 associations will actually receive funding or programming, or whether it's aspirational. We know the program exists in those places, but we don't know the depth or quality of implementation.
Le Pouls
- 250 million children worldwide have no access to basic education — a crisis so vast it has long outpaced the institutions meant to address it.
- FIFA and Global Citizen are betting that the gravitational pull of the World Cup can do what policy alone has not, channeling ticket sales, celebrity influence, and a global broadcast audience into a $100M education fund.
- With Hugh Jackman, Shakira, Serena Williams, and The Weeknd lending their names to an advisory board, the initiative is engineering visibility as a fundraising tool — and it is working, with $30M already secured.
- Half the funds are earmarked for FIFA Football for Schools, a program active across 211 member associations — more nations than sit in the United Nations — using sport as a structured pathway to learning.
- The 2026 World Cup final's first-ever halftime show, performed by Global Citizen, will transform a singular television moment into a global statement about who gets left out of education and why that must change.
In a world where 250 million children remain outside the reach of formal education, FIFA and Global Citizen have chosen the world's most-watched sport as a lever for change — committing to raise $100 million by the 2026 World Cup final to bring learning and football development to over 100,000 children across more than 200 communities. The initiative, already $30 million toward its goal, reflects a growing conviction that the grandest global stages carry an obligation beyond entertainment. When the beautiful game pauses at halftime in 2026, it will pause, for the first time, with something to say.
FIFA and Global Citizen have set an ambitious target: raise $100 million by the 2026 World Cup final to expand education access and football development across more than 200 communities worldwide. The partnership uses grassroots sport as a vehicle for learning, anchored by the belief that the game's reach can go where traditional institutions have fallen short.
The initiative came into sharp focus at the Final Draw on December 5, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans were joined by a high-profile advisory board — including Hugh Jackman, Shakira, Kaká, Serena Williams, and The Weeknd — to underscore the stakes. Their message was direct: roughly 250 million children globally lack access to basic education, and the fund aims to change that for more than 100,000 of them.
Funding mechanics are already running. FIFA pledges $1 for every ticket sold at major tournaments, a practice that began at the Club World Cup 2025. At least half of all funds raised — $50 million or more — will flow into FIFA Football for Schools, which operates across 211 member associations, a footprint larger than the United Nations. Infantino has described football as "a school of life," and the program is built around that premise.
With more than $30 million already raised, momentum is real. Kaká, who credits football with shaping his own life trajectory, spoke to the personal stakes — the fund, he reflected, gives other young people the same chance the game gave him. That message will reach its largest audience yet when Global Citizen performs the World Cup 2026 final's first-ever halftime show, turning a global television moment into a platform for education access.
FIFA and Global Citizen have joined forces on an education initiative with an ambitious financial target: raise $100 million by the time the World Cup 2026 final kicks off. The partnership, announced earlier this year, aims to funnel resources into quality education and football development across more than 200 communities worldwide, working through grassroots programs that use the sport as a vehicle for learning and growth.
The scale of the ambition became clear at the Final Draw for the World Cup 2026 on December 5, when FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Global Citizen Co-Founder and CEO Hugh Evans, and a roster of high-profile advisors—including Hugh Jackman, Shakira, Kaká, and Bank of America Co-President Jim DeMare—released video messages underscoring why the fund matters. The advisory board also includes The Weeknd, Ivanka Trump, and Serena Williams. Their collective message centered on a stark reality: roughly 250 million children globally have no access to basic education. The fund's goal is to change that for more than 100,000 of them.
The mechanics of fundraising are already in motion. FIFA has committed to donating $1 for every ticket sold at major tournaments—a practice that began at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and will continue through the 2026 World Cup. Infantino emphasized that half of the total funds raised, or $50 million or more, will flow directly into FIFA Football for Schools, a program operating across 211 FIFA member associations—a footprint that exceeds the number of countries in the United Nations. The program positions football as what Infantino called "a school of life," using the sport's values as a framework for children's growth and education.
Progress toward the $100 million target is already substantial. As of the announcement, the fund had raised more than $30 million, suggesting momentum behind the initiative. Evans framed the partnership as a convergence of two large organizations lending their platforms, credibility, and reach to an education problem that has long lacked sufficient attention and resources. The combination of FIFA's global sporting authority and Global Citizen's track record in mobilizing philanthropic support creates what Evans described as a powerful vehicle for change.
Kaká, who won the World Cup in 2002 and now serves as an advisor, spoke to the personal dimension of the initiative. Football shaped his own education and life trajectory, he reflected, and the fund offers a platform for other young people to dream and develop through the game. Global Citizen will amplify this message when it performs the World Cup 2026 final's halftime show—the first time the tournament will feature a dedicated halftime performance, turning a global television moment into a statement about education access and opportunity.
Citations marquantes
Half of the $100 million or more will go directly to FIFA Football for Schools, reaching children in 211 FIFA member associations—more than the number of countries in the United Nations.— FIFA President Gianni Infantino
Football was really important for my education. It played a key role in my life. This is a great platform which allows kids and young people to dream.— Kaká, FIFA Legend and 2002 World Cup winner
Envie de l'histoire complète ?
Lire l'original sur CNBC TV18 ↗
Sports