The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is a bold, high-ambition initiative that puts grassroots organizations at the center of a global push to expand children’s access to quality education and sport.
About the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund Program
Jointly administered by FIFA and Global Citizen, the fund was launched in 2025 with a goal of raising over $100 million by the 2026 World Cup Final. Half of all funds are allocated to a public open-call grants program managed by Global Citizen, while the remainder supports FIFA’s Football for Schools program, a FIFA and UNESCO-led initiative operating in over 200 countries.
Funding Size
- Grant range: $50,000 to $250,000 per organization
- Funding is disbursed as a one-year, one-time grant per cycle
- Total fund target: over $100 million by the 2026 World Cup Final
- All funds disbursed within two years of the 2026 World Cup Final
- Organizations that received a grant in a prior cycle are not eligible to apply again
Who Can Apply
- Community-based, grassroots organizations legally registered as nonprofits in the country where grant funds will be used
- Organizations serving between 500 and 10,000 beneficiaries within their community
- Applicants must be directly implementing the proposed activities, not acting as a pass-through
- Funding requested must not exceed 50% of the organization’s annual budget for the proposed grant year
- Organizations must have at least three years of certified or audited financial statements demonstrating financial stability
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Geographic Eligibility
- Open globally
- Organizations must be legally registered and operating in the country where proposed activities will take place
- All countries and regions are eligible provided the registration and implementation requirements are met
Sector or Thematic Focus
- Expanding access to quality education for children in underserved communities
- Sport-based learning and life skills development through football
- Literacy, learning quality, and educational infrastructure improvement
- Inclusive education for girls, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations
Application Process
Applications are submitted online through the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund portal. The process begins with an eligibility screening to confirm alignment with the fund’s goals. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to meet with Fund officials before a final decision is made. Applications may be submitted in any language, though the application form is currently available in English. Confirmation of receipt is sent to every applicant upon submission.
Required Materials
- Completed online application form
- Organizational registration documents confirming nonprofit status in the country of operation
- At least three years of certified or audited financial statements
- Project proposal with evidence of education or sport program track record
- Documentation demonstrating the organization serves between 500 and 10,000 community beneficiaries
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Key Dates
- Cycle II application deadline: 29 May 2026
- Cycle I grantees announced: early 2026, with approximately 150 organizations funded
Selection Notes
- Proposals are evaluated on strategic alignment with Global Citizen’s K-12 education vision, leverage and long-term sustainability potential, extent of community participation in program design and implementation, and the organization’s capacity to deliver measurable impact