April 28 – FIFA has officially launched the inaugural World Football Week, running from May 21-25 FIFA said it is designed to expand the global footprint of football’s community engagement and commercial activation.
The new initiative builds on the United Nations-recognised World Football Day (May 25) and extends it into a five-day celebration under the theme ‘Together, We Are Stronger’.
For the event, FIFA has developed a comprehensive event toolkit for its Member Associations, clubs, sports centres, and community organisations, offering guidance to help stage local activities and maximise participation.
World Football Week was first proposed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the UN General Assembly in May 2024 and received backing from the then-UNGA President Dennis Francis and the Group of Friends of Football. The timing is symbolically tied to FIFA’s own founding date on 21 May 1904 and the start of the 1924 Paris Olympic football tournament, seen as a major stepping stone towards the creation of the FIFA World Cup.
By creating an extended celebration window, FIFA is providing a larger platform for its stakeholders to activate local and global initiatives, promoting football’s unifying power while opening additional commercial opportunities for brands, broadcasters, and federations.
“World Football Week is more than just a celebration of the game we love; it’s a celebration of unity. Under the theme ‘Together, We Are Stronger’, World Football Week will be an opportunity to honour football’s immense power to bring people together and is also a show of the strength that our football community has when united,” said Infantino.
“No matter how you enjoy the sport, whether playing with friends or cheering on a team, you are part of football, which truly unites the world.
Mattias Grafström, FIFA Secretary General, added: “World Football Week is a special opportunity for communities to come together and enjoy football. We thank the FIFA Member Associations, and everyone involved for their creativity and commitment in organising and delivering events, giving people around the world the chance to share in the joy football brings.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1745861934labto1745861934ofdlr1745861934owedi1745861934sni@g1745861934niwe.1745861934yrrah1745861934