On May 26 the football world will converge for the inaugural World Football Giving Day, a coordinated push to donate to more than 100 charities. High‑profile supporters such as Jurgen Klopp, Juan Mata and Vivianne Miedema will front the campaign, joined by partners adidas and Right to Dream. organisers hope the one‑day event sparks a global wave of giving ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The drive is powered by Common Goal, the charitable network Mata founded in 2017 that asks players to donate one per cent of their salaries. Over 500 footballers have signed up, channeling millions into projects ranging from gender‑based violence prevention to climate action. CEO Mary Connor stresses that the initiative must extend beyond athletes as non‑profits face funding instability.

Connor, a former athlete and co‑founder of Soccer Without Borders, cites street games in Vietnam and girls’ programmes in Nicaragua as proof that football can reshape social norms. By rallying billions of fans to donate on a single day, organisers aim to cement the event as an annual tradition, turning the sport’s universal appeal into measurable aid.