From May through July 2026, a simple challenge is turning soccer balls into tools for educational change: MetLife and Global Citizen launched "Footwork for Futures," inviting people worldwide to film themselves juggling a soccer ball and share it on social media. For every eligible video submitted, MetLife donates $5 to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, with the company committing to support grants up to $100,000 that help children access quality education and sports in underserved communities.
The partnership builds on MetLife Foundation's already substantial $9 million commitment as a founding donor to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The fund distributes grants to community-based organizations globally, supporting educational and sports programs that strengthen young people's resilience and confidence. By tying the campaign to the excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Footwork for Futures creates a moment of global convergence—when the world's attention is on soccer—to amplify these efforts.
What makes this initiative notably inclusive is its openness to everyone. There are no skill requirements. Whether participants are seasoned ball jugglers or have never attempted one, they're invited to submit their own version of "keeping a soccer ball in motion." Videos can be shared across Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, Facebook, or directly through the Global Citizen app, with the hashtag #FootworkForFutures marking each submission. Participants can nominate friends and family to join, creating ripples of engagement and awareness.
Nuria Garcia, Head of Global Sustainability at MetLife and Chair of MetLife Foundation, framed the initiative as proof of concept: "The FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund is proof of what's possible when we unite the world's love of football with the power of education to strengthen our communities. Footwork for Futures helps make that mission fun, real and accessible. Every video submitted is a meaningful step toward building more confident futures for young people around the world."
The mechanics are straightforward but meaningful. Each submission must clearly show a real person safely juggling or attempting to juggle a soccer ball, and entries must comply with platform rules and campaign terms. The campaign runs from May 12 to July 19, 2026, or until the $100,000 donation cap is reached. Videos submitted after that date will still be shared and celebrated, but they won't generate additional donations.
Global Citizen, the world's largest movement to end extreme poverty, brings scale and reach to the effort. Since its founding in 2008, the organization has helped channel more than $50 billion in commitments across its platforms, impacting 1.3 billion lives. MetLife's Foundation, established in 1976, has contributed over $1 billion to strengthen communities globally over five decades.
What's striking about Footwork for Futures is how it democratizes philanthropy without diluting impact. A teenager filming a wobbly juggle attempt contributes the same $5 as someone executing perfect footwork. The barrier to participation is almost nonexistent—everyone has a soccer ball or access to one, and everyone has a phone. Yet collectively, these small, shareable moments funnel meaningful resources toward organizations working directly with children in communities worldwide. In a landscape often dominated by large institutional donors, this campaign invites ordinary people to be part of something larger, proving that individual action, when coordinated globally, can expand access to the education and sports programs that help young people thrive.