Driving Change

During the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, FIFA used its Football Unites the World platform to raise awareness for several important social issues.

Following consultation with member associations, teams and players, several social impact causes were identified, including gender equality, ending hunger and inclusion. These were visible on the captains' armbands, pitch-side digital LED boards, large flags presented on the pitch, giant screens in the stadiums and social media.

Participating teams and players showed their support and helped to raise awareness to nearly 2 million fans attending matches and record breaking TV audiences.

Read on to find out what happened.

FIFA recognises the importance of preserving the rights and lands of the First Nations and Indigenous Peoples around the world and is proud to have used football to highlight this during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.

Unite for Indigenous Peoples was celebrated during the second group-stage matches, while FIFA and UN Human Rights (OHCHR) welcomed a panel of experts to discuss the threats to First Nations communities on the UN International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August).

As FIFA moves toward a level playing field for women and girls involved in football, Unite for Gender Equality highlighted the positive changes to date and what remains to be achieved.

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura and Chief Women’s Football Officer Sarai Bareman spoke at a number of Gender Equality symposiums during the tournament, to amplify the work FIFA is doing, while the FIFA Women’s Football Convention welcomed delegates from around the world to learn more about how to empower women and girls at all levels of football.

During the Round of 16 matches, FIFA joined forces with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency to raise awareness around the right to seek asylum for those forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. Currently, more that 110 million people are forcibly displaced, a number that’s never been higher.

FIFA and UNHCR welcomed a group of almost 40 refugees to Melbourne Rectangular Stadium for fun-packed day including a special back-stage tour ahead of Colombia v Jamaica.

With the aim to empower boys, girls and people of all ages with valuable life skills, Unite for Education for All embodies FIFA’s Football for Schools programme.

It’s where learning meets football, inspiring children to develop through fun-filled, football-themed sessions. Unite for Education for All, in support of UNESCO, was seen throughout the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ quarter-finals.

Violence against women and girls remains the most widespread and pervasive human rights violation worldwide.

According to UN Women, one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence, and the immediate and long-term physical, sexual, and mental consequences for women and girls can be devastating, even fatal.

Violence against women and girls affects us all - families, communities, and nations.

During the semi-final between Spain and Sweden, FIFA and UN Women partnered to raise awareness of the dangers to those at risk and to campaign for ending violence against women and girls.

Everyone has the right to healthy food.

Using the reach of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Australia and New Zealand™, FIFA worked with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to raise awareness of the importance of adults and children having access to food.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ brought us all some of the most unforgettable moments and gave people from around the world the opportunity to feel more passion, hope and love for the women’s game than ever before.

With its proven benefits for health and wellbeing, and power to encourage healthy lifestyles, football is a force worth celebrating.

No Discrimination, FIFA’s awareness and education campaign, was delivered in collaboration with UN Human Rights throughout the entirety of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

FIFA believes that discrimination, in all its possible forms and expressions, is one of the most common forms of human rights violations and abuse. It affects millions of people everyday stifling opportunities, harming physical and mental health, wasting human talent and accentuating social tensions and inequalities.  

Be Active #BringTheMoves was delivered throughout the entirety of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to WHO, 80% of kids are not getting enough exercise globally, and all children need to be active for a minimum of 60 minutes a day. That’s why FIFA and WHO partnered together to create Be Active #BringTheMoves.