Football is more than just a game

In Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, I attended a tournament organized by the United Nations peacekeeping mission. Young people from communities that had recently been enemies were playing together on the same team. I still remember when Gloire à Dieu passed the ball to Moussa. It was just a simple pass, but it meant so much. Just a few years before, their families were in conflict.

The tournament was never just about football. Through training sessions, matches, and casual meetings, these young people learned to trust one another again. They found respect and cooperation, and most importantly, they saw a chance for a shared future. Football didn't erase what happened before, but it helped rebuild trust where it had once vanished.

I have seen this power in other places too. In Rwanda, football got children to go to school, where they also got meals from the World Food Programme. Across Africa, some of the continent's best-known players used their fame to support the Roll Back Malaria partnership, convincing families to protect their kids from one of the deadliest diseases. Football was not just about scoring goals. It was helping to save lives.

That's why the recent issues with FIFA and the feeling that politics is entering the game during this World Cup really worry me. FIFA should be open with supporters, players, and national associations. If its rules are followed, it should explain its decisions clearly. If mistakes happen, it should admit them and take responsibility. That's how trust in big international organizations is built.

But I think the main problem is elsewhere. FIFA does not work alone. It collaborates every day with governments, businesses, and partners worldwide. This is both necessary and expected. But it must never be okay for political or commercial pressure to weaken its independence or distract it from its mission.

FIFA’s biggest strength is not just the World Cup itself. It isn't just its commercial success or global reach. Its true power lies in football’s ability to bring people together across borders, cultures, religions, and political views. Few organizations can unite so many people around a common passion. With this privilege comes responsibility.

FIFA has a chance to use this influence to urge governments to invest more in health, education, child protection, gender equality, respect for LGBT people, peace, and sustainable development. Not by getting involved in partisan politics, but by using the global appeal of football to support universal values.

This is where the FIFA Foundation can make a real impact. The response to the current crisis should not just focus on legal issues or reforms. It should also be a chance to redefine FIFA’s broader purpose.

The organization has the right tools already. With bigger ambitions, the FIFA Foundation could become one of the world’s leading charity organizations. Very few institutions can bring together over 200 national football associations, millions of players, global sponsors, and billions of supporters behind shared humanitarian goals.

The Foundation should not be seen as a side activity. It should be one of FIFA’s main missions. This needs resources that match the scale of world football, but also governance that welcomes independent voices with integrity, credibility, and the courage to challenge the norm. Strong institutions benefit from people who are ready to ask tough questions and help create a long-term vision.

The team that wins this World Cup will gain something far greater than a trophy. They will have the attention of millions of people around the world. World champions can inspire beyond sports and remind us that excellence is not only about titles but also about the values upheld and the example set.

Communication campaigns and nicely worded statements are not enough anymore. Football can inspire and mobilize people across every continent. It would be a shame if that power was linked mostly to power struggles, business interests, or political fights, when it could be one of the greatest forces for good in the world.

I have seen football unite communities that once viewed each other as enemies. I have seen it motivate children to go to school. I have seen it help save lives. These experiences make me believe that football’s greatest victories will not only be counted by what happens on the pitch. They will also be counted by its ability to unite people and make our world a fairer, healthier, and more peaceful place.

The team that lifts this World Cup will inherit something more than a trophy. They will carry the attention of millions globally. World champions have a chance to inspire beyond games and remind us that true excellence is not about titles but also about the values we stand for and the example we set.

That might be football’s greatest victory of all. Because football has always been and will always be much more than just a game.