Published on: 2026-06-12
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Today begins one of the planet’s main sporting celebrations – the FIFA World Cup. The opening match will take place in Mexico at the legendary Azteca Stadium, temporarily renamed as “Estadio Mexico.” On the field, the teams of Norway and South Africa will meet. On Friday, the games will move to the USA (Englewood) and Canada (Toronto): the championship this year will be held across three countries simultaneously.
Football unites people and changes lives for the better
Football, celebrated by the UN as the most popular sport in the world, has a unique ability to unite people of different cultures, generations, and countries, making it a powerful platform for promoting socially significant initiatives.
Within the framework of the UN program “Football for the Achievement of Goals” (FFTG) related to sport, organizations—from specialized agencies and clubs to NGOs and private companies—are offered to direct this potential towards implementationSustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For this, it is necessary to implement the principles of social justice and inclusivity into its operational strategies and work with supporters.
Analysis of the FFTG initiative data for 2024 shows that its participants pay special attention to the social vector of the SDGs. For example, they often claim that their projects contribute to progress in the area of quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), as well as public health (SDG 3).
Program participants emphasize that football-related projects change people’s lives for the better, bringing the greatest benefits to the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Championship and epidemiological risks: how to protect yourself
Events of such scale as the World Championship bring to cities not only sports euphoria but also a whole range of problems. The massive gathering of fans creates a serious burden on the infrastructure. Traffic jams and violations of public order are inevitable.
Furthermore, the high concentration of people in the stadium and in the fan zones increases epidemiological risks. Under conditions of close contact between fans from different countries and regions, the rate of infection spread rises sharply.
On the first day of the championship, the director of the European regional bureau of the WHO, Hans Kluge, made a special statement. He noted that many fans from Europe travel to the games in North America. Kluge was quick to assure that the risk of Ebola infection, reports of which do not leave the news bulletins, at the championship is low. An outbreak of this disease was registered in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
“Let me assure you: neither in any of the receiving countries nor in the European region at present has there been a registered case of Ebola infection. There is absolutely no reason for me to change my plans. Travel as usual, stay informed about events, and enjoy the tournament,” Kluge said.
Most cases of the disease have been registered in a remote area of the DRC. Before leaving these regions, local residents undergo a special medical examination. Moreover, Ebola is not transmitted through airborne droplets. Infection requires direct contact with the biological fluids of an infected person. People can be contagious only when their symptoms are already evident.
Clugge emphasized that in any situation it is important to have reliable information and be prepared for various scenarios. He reminded that symptoms of Ebola include high fever, body aches, and vomiting. If you feel unwell, it is very important to contact a doctor immediately.
“A patient who recently recovered, evacuated from Uganda and treated for Ebola virus disease in the European region. He was placed in safe isolation in Germany, and five people who had contact with him were isolated and monitored for 21 days. None of them fell ill,” Klyuge said. Cases of disease and transmission of infection in Europe have not been registered.
The WHO representative called to fight stigma. Residents of regions where the Ebola outbreak has been registered, and African communities in general, often face unfounded suspicion.
“The spread of Ebola virus disease does not depend on nationality or ethnic affiliation. Stigmatization prevents people from seeking medical help and can hinder efforts to fight outbreaks of the disease,” Kluge emphasized.
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