FIFA & Global Citizen.. $100M for Education

New York – In a move aimed at transforming the lives of millions of children worldwide, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Global Citizen, the leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty, have announced the launch of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. This ambitious initiative seeks to raise USD $100 million to provide access to quality education and football for children in need.

The new fund was unveiled at the Global Citizen NOW summit, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans both present. It aims to provide direct support to organizations working to improve children’s education globally. Michael Isaacman, Chief Commercial Officer of Shift4, emphasized his company’s role in enabling and supporting consumer donations for this initiative.

This significant step follows the announcement of the long-term strategic partnership between the two organizations last September. The initiative will see $1 from every ticket sold for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ matches in the United States this summer being dedicated to the education fund. Tickets for the tournament’s 63 matches are currently available at FIFA.com/tickets.

The fund will also benefit from proceeds from tickets to live music and entertainment events worldwide, with prominent artists like The Weeknd already pledging their support. Shift4 will be among the first corporate contributors, enabling its extensive network of over 200,000 merchants across various sectors to accept consumer donations at the point of sale.

The funds raised through the education fund will be allocated to support grassroots programs in over 200 countries. Half of these resources will be directed towards the “Football for Schools” (F4S) program, a joint initiative by FIFA and UNESCO that utilizes football to promote life skills, learning, and community development on a global scale.

Speaking at the summit, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated, “I am delighted to announce the launch of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative that aims to mobilize financial support from institutions, businesses, and the public to bolster global education. I am honored to announce that one dollar from every ticket sold for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be allocated to this fund. Football has the power to unite the world, and we will strive in the coming years to harness this unity to enhance educational opportunities for millions of children.”

Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans emphasized, “The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund represents a bold stride towards a world where every child, regardless of their birthplace, has access to education and opportunity. By combining the transformative power of football and music, we aspire to raise $100 million. In collaboration with our partners at FIFA, we are investing in building a brighter future where every child has the chance to thrive.”

Michael Isaacman of Shift4 added, “Shift4 is proud to support the Education Fund and facilitate a new era of positive impact through our payment solutions. Leveraging our extensive network of clients, we aim to empower our partners to drive meaningful change by streamlining fundraising at the point of sale, transforming everyday transactions into a force for good and global education equity.”

Further details regarding the FIFA Club World Cup™ 2025 will be announced leading up to the tournament kickoff in Miami on June 14, 2025. Information about initiatives for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be disclosed at a later date.