(London/Washington, D.C. – March 21, 2024) Football for Peace (FfP) is kicking off a 10-year campaign using the power of football and soccer to tackle water issues worldwide. The Rehydrating The Earth campaign aims at raising awareness and establishing partnerships to prevent and reduce water scarcity while eliminating the tensions around related environmental challenges between communities.
The 10-year initiative is focused on groundwater specifically, a critical source of drinking water
and essential for agriculture globally. Through sport’s influence it will spread awareness, engage
communities, launch projects worldwide and advocate for policies to improve conservation.
The announcement featured events in the U.S. and UK with leadership of the bipartisan
Congressional Global Water Security Caucus, UK Children’s Parliament, athletes, diplomats, and
faith leaders.
Youth from diverse backgrounds and faith from Washington and London took part in the
activation.
A number of football federations, professional clubs and athletes are supporting the initiative
The campaign builds up on the momentum of the FIFA World Cup 2026 (Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.), the FIFA World Cup 2030 (Morocco, Portugal, and Spain), and the FIFA World Cup Saudi Arabia 2034, to mobilize public and private sectors through football activations, education, health, and other projects that help reduce water scarcity in different cities.
Rehydrating The Earth, supported by IGRAC (International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre), shines a spotlight in areas that can contribute to solutions such as groundwater, which is a critical source of drinking water and essential for agriculture globally, but there are gaps in understanding its significance. The nonprofit runs programs across Africa, Asia, UK and the U.S., and most recently has co- chaired a UN Think Tank on Water with the International Groundwaters Resources Assessment Centre to activate the football and diplomatic community for World Water Day (March 22).
The announcement featured special events in the U.S. and UK with leadership of the bipartisan Congressional Global Water Security Caucus, UK Children’s Parliament, athletes, diplomats, and youth from across diverse faith communities.
Key notes in the US were delivered by Ambassador Rashad Hussain who serves as the U.S. Ambassador-at-large-for International Religious Freedom, Mayor Brent Latham of North Bay Village Miami, Terry Hasseltine, Maryland Sports Commision.
Key notes in the UK were delivered by the UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy and Deputy on Freedom of Religion or
Belief MP Fiona Bruce, Jay Jadeja International Liason, FfP, alongside former Everton Player Oumer Niasse, Brentford FC Women’s Team Alexandra Nord, UK Former footballer Adebayo AkinFenwa.
Representative Darin LaHood (R-IL), Co-Chair of the Congressional Water Security Caucus: “Access to clean water is an important vehicle for building healthy outcomes and economic development in communities across the country. As we celebrate World Water Day, I appreciate the work Football for Peace does to promote clean water access and conflict resolution through sport.”
Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) expressed; As a former NCAA Division One soccer player, I’m thrilled to combine my love for the sport with my work to improve people’s lives. That’s why I’m proud to be an Ambassador for Football for Peace to help address issues like water scarcity. Water is our most precious resource, yet access to clean water is still a global challenge. By joining forces with Football for Peace, I will continue to raise awareness on this issue and use football and soccer as a forum for combating water insecurity everywhere. On March 22, we will celebrate World Water Day. Let’s all do our part to rehydrate the earth.
In the UK, the youth participation was organized by the Sir David Amess Children’s Parliament in collaboration with the Association of British Muslims, Maccabi GB and St Vincent de Paul Catholic Charity. The initiative kicked off with the support of Baroness Uddin, Member of the House of Lords of the UK and Co-Parliamentary Champion of the Children’s Parliament, and Anna Firth MP Children’s Parliament. In addition, the UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy and Deputy on Freedom of Religion or
Belief MP Fiona Bruce and David Burrows are backing the initiative. Former professional footballers Adebayo Akinfenwa and Premier League Oumer Niasse also participated in the event while several professional clubs and federations displayed their support internationally. The ceremony also showcased a symbolic handover of power of the outgoing Interim Children’s Parliament Prime Minister Harry Acheampong, 12, to newly elected Interim Prime Minister Clark Dearson, 11, from Saint Pierre
School in Leigh on Sea, Essex. Newly elected Child Deputy Prime Minister Naila Seetal, 10, played a key
role in organizing the activity.
MP Fiona Bruce, UK Prime Minister Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion of Belief. The recently published White Paper on International Development recognised the need for action which tackles religious vulnerabilities. It is therefore timely that Football for Peace is launching its Rehydrating the Earth project which is focussed on Water and Unity, bringing people from all religious and cultural backgrounds together through the power of sports diplomacy to tackle water challenges.”
Following World Water Day, children are participating in the Most Valuable Peacemakers (MVP) Tournaments bringing together Jewish, Muslim and Christian youth to play on the same team in addition to children from other religious backgrounds to promote unity and camaraderie as part of the London MVP program launch.
In Washington, D.C., the event at the National Mall featured youth clinics, keynote speeches, and the symbolic wall kickoff, followed by a private reception at the Capitol Hill building with members of Congress and Senate to mark the tenth anniversary of the Water for the World Act and hosted by the Millennium Water Alliance, WaterAid America and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). The initiative is supported by congress representatives Darin LaHood (R-
IL) and Co-Chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, Grace Meng (D-NY), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Co- Chairs of the Congressional Water Security Caucus, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Livermore)l. Supporting invitees included Ambassador Rashad Hussain who serves as the U.S. Ambassador-at-large-for International Religious Freedom, as well as DMV’s professional athletes and local heroes – NFL All-Pro former Washington Commanders Cornerback Josh Norman, Mike Macadoo Athlete former Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys, Erin McCusker, Senior Vice President, LIXIL, D.C. United players Steve Birnbaum, Louis Zamudio, Russell Canouse, former Premier League Striker and current D.C. United Forward Christian Benteke, Garrison Tubbs, Washington Spirit Striker, Anna Heilferty, former Gotham FC midfielder Mana Shim, and former Washington Divas player Christal Golston, Kwame Awuah, Wesley Leggett, Christiano François Loudon FC players.
Following the World Water Day activation, FfP is launching the Most Valuable Peacemaker (MVP) pilot programs in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, and Miami, FL, where youth from different faiths are upskilled on water and will unite alongside professional soccer and football heroes to promote the campaign.
“Josh R. Norman, NFL Cornerback and founding board member of FfP USA. “Our heritage comes from
professional sports, and we consider football, both soccer and American Football, to have a unique ability to reach far beyond ethnic, religious, social, or environmental differences. We hope to make a lot of a positive impact in the U.S.A. and the world inspiring youth for water”
