May 23 – Electronic Arts, developers of the FC24 hit video game, have announced that their EA Sports FC Futures initiative has opened up grassroots football to more than 170,000 people over the course of its debut year.
They also took the opportunity to unveil a new comprehensive programme, Namibia Futures, as part of a multi-year partnership with UNICEF in an effort to create long-lasting social change in Namibia and beyond, reaching over 46,000 children and adolescents.
On the five-year anniversary of partnership between EA Sports and Soccer Aid for UNICEF, the video gaming giant said it had now raised nearly £100 million to support UNICEF’s transformative work.
“It’s been a busy and immensely productive first year for FC FUTURES,” said James Salmon, Senior Marketing Director, EA SPORTS FC. “We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far, and we thank our partners, our ambassadors and all the remarkable community leaders who have helped bring FC FUTURES to life. There’s still so much more to do to support community-level football on a global scale, but this collaborative effort will continue to ensure our investment is felt by local communities around the world who will truly benefit from the power of football.”
Namibia Futures is the next project in a programme that thinks global but acts local.
“We’re thrilled to expand the partnership between our two organisations, following over five years of successful collaboration between EA Sports and Soccer Aid for UNICEF,” said Andrea Hopelain, GM & SVP of Publishing, EA SPORTS. “Through this program, we hope to meaningfully impact many young lives in Namibia, using the power of football and our EA Sports FC platform.”
There are 300 million adolescent girls around the world today. With the right resources, networks and opportunities, they may be the greatest group of changemakers the world has ever seen,” said Jon Sparkes, chief executive of the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK).
“Our new partnership with EA Sports FC, Namibia Futures, will support over 46,000 Namibian adolescents to build better futures both on and off the football pitch. I would like to thank EA SPORTS FC for standing by children and helping UNICEF to not only improve adolescents’ physical wellbeing, but also to develop key life skills that help them transform their lives with our partnership.”
FC Futures also funded a five-a-side pitch in honour of Ian Wright and David Rocastle in London earlier this year, with a view to getting more children active and playing football.
“To know that the first-ever pitch that came from this initiative is in my old community, at my old primary school, is a really special legacy for me and Rocky,” said FC Futures ambassador Ian Wright.
“The Rocky & Wrighty Arena at Turnham Academy wouldn’t have happened without FC Futures, and it’s amazing to see the positive impact our pitch is having on young people in the community.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1732301441labto1732301441ofdlr1732301441owedi1732301441sni@g1732301441niwe.1732301441yrrah1732301441