By Adedapo Adesanya
As the 2022 edition of the World Cup kicked off, in line with the approach adopted in all tournaments, the Federation of the International Football Association (FIFA), together with three United Nations agencies, will run a range of social campaigns during the tournament.
FIFA said the purpose was to send messages promoting health, unity and non-discrimination to the billions of worldwide viewers across multiple channels.
These campaigns have taken into account feedback received from its member associations, who, like FIFA, are committed to using the power of football to effect positive change around the world.
Each round of matches will be associated with its dedicated campaign designed to maximise reach and impact. These will be run together with FIFA’s partner agencies from the United Nations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Messaging opportunities will be provided to the participating teams via the team captains’ armbands during matches, with supporting content being displayed on LED screens around the pitch, on giant screens and on flags in the stadiums, together with additional amplification on FIFA’s digital platforms and through media, stakeholders, and other public activities.
The campaigns are as follows:
Group stage, round one: #FootballUnitesTheWorld
Group stage, round two: #SaveThePlanet
Group stage, round three: #ProtectChildren #ShareTheMeal
Round of 16: #EducationForAll #FootballForSchools
Quarter-finals: #NoDiscrimination
Semi-finals: #BeActive #BringTheMoves
Third-place and Final: Football Is Joy, Passion, Hope, Love and Peace – #FootballUnitesTheWorld
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kicked off on Sunday, November 20, which the host nation takes on Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium.
In total, 64 matches will be played, with Lusail Stadium hosting the final on Sunday, December 18, 2022.
By uniting behind these campaigns, FIFA and its 211 member associations will showcase to every corner of the world that, despite our differences, football has the power as a global force to bring people together for the common good.