WHO, FIFA Extends Collaboration to Promote Healthy Lifestyles

By Adedapo Adesanya

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and the President of the world’s football governing body, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), Mr Gianni Infantino, have signed a new agreement to promote health through football.

FIFA and the global health watchdog agreed to extend their collaboration and continue to use the power of football to promote healthy lifestyles and equal access to health services worldwide.

During the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, both parties signed a four-year extension to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier sealed on October 4, 2019.

Speaking on this, the WHO chief said, “Health and football are perfect teammates. Promoting healthy lifestyles, safe stadiums, and the physical and mental benefits of physical activity are among the many health goals WHO is proud to keep scoring with FIFA for the next four years.

“WHO’s partnership with FIFA has already succeeded in sharing evidence-based messages to help people of all ages lead healthier and safer lives through the power of football and sport. WHO looks forward to continuing this journey.”

“We are proud to have signed and renewed the memorandum of understanding with the World Health Organization – we are proud to continue our relationship to pass important physical and mental health messages through our global football audience,” Mr Infantino said.

“I extend my gratitude to Dr Tedros, to his wonderful team, to everyone that helps in the healthcare sector – from doctors to nurses to healthcare professionals and health ministers – and to everyone who contributes to making our lives better,” he added.

Reflecting on the past four years, he noted, “Both Dr Tedros and I felt that in a world that is more and more divided, maybe if the World Health Organization and FIFA join forces, we can achieve something, we can have even just a little impact to make our lives a little bit better. Since 2019, we have worked together with our colleagues at the World Health Organization to try to use the impact of football that helps drive health for one and all.”

During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, FIFA and the WHO launched the Football Unites the World campaign. Supported by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Hassan Al-Haydos, Karim Benzema, Lucy Bronze, Giulia Gwinn, Kaká, Robert Lewandowski, Carli Lloyd, Édouard Mendy and Emmanuel Petit as well as by two of the WHO’s Goodwill Ambassadors for Sport and Health, namely Alisson Becker and Didier Drogba, it illustrated football’s unrivalled ability to bring people together.

The support of the Qatar Ministry of Public Health, FIFA and the WHO collaborated on a number of initiatives to promote the importance of access to physical and mental health for all.

Since 2020, the two organisations have joined forces on various digital campaigns and initiatives to address a range of health-related issues. These include (#ReachOut) for domestic violence (#SafeHome), an appreciation of the work of health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic (#HumanitysHeroes), equitable access to vaccinations and vaccines, diagnostics, oxygen and other life-saving tools (#ACTogether) and “Pass the message to kick out coronavirus campaign”, where FIFA Legends called on people around the world to take five steps to stop the spread of the disease.