The joint partnership of UNICEF and FIFA

FIFA and the Unicef logo formed part of the official banner during the 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP.

UNICEF and FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) formed a joint partnership during the 2006 games, as part of the FIFA WORLD CUP, whose official banner diplayed the Unicef logo. However, this was not the first time they had performed under the same flag.

Since 1999, the two organizations have teamed up, through educational debates, to inform children around the world on HIV/AIDS awareness. They have partnered, as well, to promote the inalienable rights of every child to live in a peaceful world, a world devoid of conflict and abuse; and to quell the ill-begotten practice of abducting children with the murderous and spurious objective of recruiting them as soldiers.

In 2002, amidst the Japan and Korea World Cup, their campaign effort was focused on galvanizing the youth and children around the world under the motto “Say Yes for Children”. Thereafter, in 2003, the feminine power rose to the surface in the form of “Go Girls”. This theme was used to highlight the Women's World Cup, and as the right of every single girl in the world to be educated.

Last year, for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, their campaign, based on the concept : UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE FOR PEACE, was focused on global communication activities, as well as multi media initiatives that were broadcast, before and throughout each game.

Football, known as soccer in the U.S.A., is one of the most influential games in the world. It is renown throughout the globe, and is the most accesible of all games, due to the fact that only a ball and an open space are needed. It serves as a possitive, instructional and educational tool; a tool that backed by the UNICEF, can perform wonders in shaping a child´s future.

Santiago Meilij , modified & edited by a.b. barnett