FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund adds 31 grantees and reaches $60 million

Global Citizen and FIFA announced 31 new community-based education grantees as the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund reached $60 million in commitments. The fund now supports 58 organizations across 18 countries and aims to reach more than 400,000 children ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final.

Why it matters: - The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is expanding access to education and sport for children in underserved communities across 18 countries. - The fund now has $60 million in commitments, putting more money behind education programs as global education aid is projected to fall sharply. - The new grants are designed to help the FIFA World Cup 2026 leave a legacy beyond the tournament.

What happened: - Global Citizen and FIFA announced 31 additional community-based organizations that will receive grants from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. - The announcement came as the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final and first-ever halftime show approach. - The second cohort is based in 18 countries and will receive grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. - The latest awards bring total fund recipients to 58 organizations. - A dedicated pledging summit, “No Child on the Sidelines,” was held in New York City on the same day.

The details: - The 58 supported organizations are expected to benefit more than 400,000 children worldwide. - The fund has raised $60 million in commitments from philanthropies, brands, corporations, individual donors and ticket sales tied to major music and sporting events. - Government partners supporting the campaign include Canada, Portugal, Sierra Leone and Zambia, plus the Belgian Agency for International Cooperation Enabel. - The United Arab Emirates committed $5 million. - Qatar, via the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, provided an anchor pledge that will support grants in the Middle East and North Africa. - Fox Corporation donated $1 million. - Additional support came from the Adam Foundation, the FIFA Foundation, the Varkey Foundation and the Pakistan Football Federation. - Other supporters include AT&T Stadium, Carolyn McDonnell, Chris Stadler, Deloitte, Flavorful Friends, Nissan Stadium and the BTS Army. - The BTS Army fundraised online after BTS was announced for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final halftime show. - The fund has also drawn money from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and the FIFA World Cup 2026. - Founding donors include MetLife Foundation and Bank of America, which serves as the bank of record. - Cisco and Sony are also contributors. - Proceeds from all tickets sold to The Weeknd’s “After Hours Til Dawn” tour and Usher and Chris Brown’s “R&B” tour will be donated, with support from Live Nation. - Shakira’s royalties from the official FIFA World Cup 2026 song “Dai Dai” are being donated to the fund. - Sony Music will match the first $250,000 raised with a donation. - Shakira is also donating $1 from every ticket sold to her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” tour. - A portion of the funds will go to FIFA Football for Schools, which uses football to advance life skills, learning and community development. - The fund’s advisory board includes Hugh Jackman, The Weeknd, Ivanka Trump, Gianni Infantino, Hugh Evans, Serena Williams, Shakira, Kaká and Bank of America co-president Jim De Mare.

Between the lines: - The fund is targeting a moment of weak global education financing, with aid projected to fall by about one-quarter and some vulnerable countries seeing cuts of more than 40%. - Many of the selected organizations work in places where fewer than 15% of students complete secondary school and poverty rates exceed 60%. - The mix of grantees shows a strategy that favors proven local models, not just traditional classroom-only programs. - The fund is also using sport, nutrition, health services and community engagement as part of the education model. - Global Citizen is emphasizing speed in moving money to frontline organizations while also calling for more support from major football countries.

What's next: - FIFA and Global Citizen said they will keep working with governments, companies, philanthropists and football fans to grow the fund. - The organizations behind the campaign are still trying to reach a $100 million target for children’s education. - More grantmaking and monitoring are expected over the coming months as the fund continues to scale. - Eligibility and application details remain available through Global Citizen's education fund portal, and more information is available here.