FIFA’s partner, the World Health Organization (WHO) held the 3rd edition of Walk the Talk: The Health For All Challenge in Geneva, Switzerland today. The event celebrated the importance of healthy lifestyles and demonstrated measures to safely conduct public events including communication of health protocols and precautionary measures.

FIFA Legend Oscar Román Acosta took part in the event that invited participants to run or walk over two routes: 3 km and 4.2 km. Acosta, a retired Argentine football midfielder won two Primera Division Argentina titles with Ferro Carril Oeste. He also played for Servette in Geneva and has close ties with the city. People of all ages and abilities turned up to support the event and a dedicated app allowed further participation from all over the world.

In 2019, FIFA and WHO set up a strategic partnership aimed at promoting and protecting the physical and mental health of people worldwide. The collaboration has delivered many successful joint-initiatives from promoting physical activity and addressing mental health challenges, to advocating for adherence to public health measures, as well as equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatments to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ fast approaching, FIFA and WHO have now teamed-up with the State of Qatar to further protect and promote health. Lessons learned from the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world will also be shared with future major sporting event hosts. Unified in a shared commitment to promote health for all, FIFA, WHO and the State of Qatar will work together to harness the power of football – and FIFA competitions – to extend support, through campaigns and resources, to people in every part of the world.