Varkey Foundation Commits US$3 Million to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund

Global Citizen and FIFA announced the next cohort of community-based organizations that will receive grants from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. This second group of 31 grantees, based in 18 countries around the world, will receive awards ranging from USD $50,000–$250,000 to continue their community-based work expanding access to quality education and sports for children in underserved communities.

The Varkey Foundation is proud to announce a US$3 million contribution to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, joining a global coalition of governments, philanthropies, corporations and individual supporters committed to expanding access to quality education for children around the world.

The announcement comes as FIFA and Global Citizen revealed that the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund has surpassed US$60 million in commitments in just over a year since its launch. Established as one of the largest education legacy initiatives ever created through global sport, it has the ambition to raise US$100 million for children's education globally.

At a dedicated pledging summit hosted by Global Citizen in New York City, 'No Child on the Sidelines', major new commitments to the Fund were announced, bringing together government partners including Canada, Portugal, Sierra Leone and Zambia, alongside the United Arab Emirates, Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Fox Corporation and a range of philanthropic and corporate supporters. The Varkey Foundation is honoured to stand among the organisations contributing to this global movement for education.

With these new grants, the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund now supports 58 organisations worldwide and is projected to positively impact more than 400,000 children globally—ensuring that the FIFA World Cup 2026™ leaves a lasting legacy far beyond the final whistle.

The newly announced grantees are delivering transformative programmes across Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America. Their work spans education, sport, nutrition, health services, digital learning, teacher development and youth leadership, addressing some of the world's most pressing educational challenges. Many operate in communities where fewer than 15 per cent of students complete secondary school and where poverty rates exceed 60 per cent, underscoring the urgent need for targeted investment in education.

The cohort of organizations announced today who will receive grants from the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund include: 

AfriKids (Ghana)
Providing children in Northern Ghana with access to quality education, while strengthening child protection and health through community-led programs.

Associació Esportiva Ciutat Vella (Spain)
Using sport to promote social inclusion, youth empowerment and community by expanding access to sports and educational opportunities for children.

Bhubesi Pride Foundation (Malawi)
Delivering inclusive youth leadership and sports programs and Achinyamata Tikambilane, a youth-led dialogue platform focused on health, gender and personal development.

Challenging Heights (Ghana)
Rescuing young people from trafficking and economic exploitation, while providing long-term survivor support and partnering with communities to prevent exploitation before it begins.

Dragones de Lavapiés (Spain)
Promoting social inclusion, intercultural dialogue and equal opportunity through sport.

EduSpots (Ghana)
Empowering local communities across Ghana to design, lead and sustain transformative learning initiatives with 50 community-owned learning hubs.

Food Education Fund (USA)
Preparing students for college and careers through hospitality education providing hands-on learning, internships, and industry partnerships.

Fondo para la Paz, IAP (Mexico)
Strengthening education, local leadership, and sustainable development in Indigenous communities through its Sustainable Community Development Program. 

Fundación Pies Descalzos (Colombia)
Developing educational infrastructure projects to expand access to quality education for children in vulnerable communities across Colombia.

Instituto Brasileiro de Capoeira-Educação (Brazil)
Using capoeira to expand educational opportunities for children and youth in vulnerable communities while promoting Afro-Brazilian culture, digital inclusion, and life skills development.

Kyaka United Youth Deaf Association (KUYODA) (Uganda)
Advancing inclusive education and equal opportunities for deaf children and young people in Uganda's Kyaka II Refugee Settlement.

Les Enfants de la Goutte d’Or (France)
Providing academic support, cultural programs and educational activities to support children, youth, and families facing socioeconomic vulnerability.

Link Community Development Malawi (Malawi)
Partnering with governments and local communities to improve learning outcomes and expand access to quality education for every child.

Luta pela Paz (Brazil)
Using sport to create new opportunities for young people in communities affected by violence and inequality through boxing, martial arts and holistic youth development.

Orange Foundation Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone)
Expanding access to childhood learning, digital skills and entrepreneurship through schools, digital centers and technology-based learning programs.

Presencia Colombo Suiza (Colombia)
Expanding long-term education opportunities for children in vulnerable communities and supporting lifelong learning from early childhood through post-secondary education.

Project Luangwa (Zambia)
Delivering literacy, digital learning, sport, youth leadership, mentoring and safe spaces that help children learn, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Sesame Square Nigeria (Nigeria)
Evidence-based teaching with multimedia and community engagement to strengthen foundational learning and child development. 

Sesame Workshop International South Africa (South Africa)
Delivering evidence-based programs in South Africa that strengthen school readiness, wellbeing and foundational life skills for young children and their caregivers.

shift_ed / Shift Education (USA)
Connecting schools, employers, higher education institutions and community partners to expand opportunities and improve long-term outcomes through a kindergarten-to-career approach.

Solid’Africa (Rwanda)
Delivering nutritious, locally sourced meals that help children stay healthy, attend school regularly and succeed academically. 

Sport 4 Life UK (United Kingdom)
Supporting young people in building successful futures through mentoring, employability training and personal development.

Street Child of Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone)
Supporting the country's most marginalized children, including girls, children with disabilities and those affected by poverty, through emergency aid, mental health support, school construction, and teacher training.

Teach For Australia (Australia)
Strengthening the education workforce and expanding opportunities for students across Australia through leadership development, coaching and teacher preparation.

Teach For Nigeria (Nigeria)
Expanding educational opportunities for children in underserved communities by recruiting and developing high-potential teachers and leaders.

The Akanksha Foundation (India)
Providing high-quality education for children through a network of free public schools, operated in partnership with municipal governments.

The Dyslexia - SPELD Foundation (Australia)
Providing evidence-based assessment, intervention, training and advocacy for individuals with language, literacy and learning difficulties.

The School Club Zambia (Zambia)
Providing schools with training and infrastructure support, helping them enhance quality learning driven by self-financing schools, vocational education, literacy development and girls’ education.

United Sports Foundation (Japan)
Helping children strengthen communication and teamwork, build self-esteem, and create meaningful learning experiences using multi-sport activities and athlete-led instruction.

Wokober Education Foundation (Uganda)
Play-based, technology-enabled, and competency-driven learning for children and youth in underserved communities that builds creativity, problem-solving, leadership, and life skills.

Women At Risk International Foundation (Nigeria)
Empowering women and girls through education, health, and survivor support to prevent sexual violence.

Global Citizen says:

“We are thrilled to receive contributions to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund from the United Arab Emirates and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy of Qatar. As we pass the $60 million milestone, it has always been our commitment to get funding into the hands of frontline organizations as quickly as possible,” said Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder and Chief Government Relations Officer, Global Citizen. “These 31 remarkable grantees are transforming children’s lives in communities around the world, from Brazil to France, the United Kingdom to Nigeria, and beyond. Their work represents the lasting legacy the FIFA World Cup 2026 will leave: expanding access to education and creating opportunities for over 400,000 children worldwide. Now we continue to invite the leaders of big football nations like French President Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez to also support the campaign.”

Fifty per cent of all funds raised through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund will support FIFA Football for Schools, an initiative available to all 211 FIFA Member Associations that uses football as a tool for education, development and empowerment. Currently active in 155 countries, the programme promotes valuable life skills, including health and wellbeing, teamwork, resilience and critical thinking, helping millions of children benefit from both sport and learning.

The Varkey Foundation's US$3 million commitment reflects our enduring belief that quality education has the power to transform lives and communities. By supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, we are investing in innovative, community-led solutions that will expand educational opportunities for children across the globe and help build a lasting legacy of learning through the universal power of sport.

As FIFA and Global Citizen continue their efforts to mobilise US$100 million for children's education, we are proud to support a partnership that demonstrates what is possible when global leaders unite around a shared commitment: ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and realise their full potential.