World Football Day is observed annually on 25 May, following its declaration by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2024. The day marks the 100th anniversary of the first internationally representative football tournament held during the 1924 Paris Olympics. The resolution was introduced by Libya’s UN Ambassador Taher El-Sonni and received support from more than 160 UN member nations.
The observance celebrates football as the world’s most popular sport and recognizes its power to promote peace, unity, diplomacy, gender equality, and social inclusion. Football acts as a universal language that connects people across cultures, races, and nations. It also supports sustainable development by encouraging health, education, and empowerment, particularly for women and marginalized communities.
Football first appeared in the Olympics at the 1900 Paris Games, while women’s football was added in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The sport is globally governed by FIFA, which has 211 member associations, making football one of the most influential sports worldwide.
