GGWCUP event will see local teams compete in 13 regions across the Kingdom while raising awareness on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through a series of engaging community initiatives
The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) has announced the return of the Global Goals World Cup (GGWCUP) to Saudi Arabia for the second time. The event will see local teams competing in 13 different regions across the Kingdom for a coveted place in the finals, which will be hosted in Jeddah during October.
Launched in 2015, the GGWCUP is a five-a-side football tournament for all-female teams that was created to take an active role in leading local sustainable development. Women aged 18 years or above are invited to form a team and choose one of the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the theme they will highlight through the creation of a community initiative.
The teams will be judged not only on the number of goals scored during each game, but on their engagement with the crowd, uniforms reflecting their chosen theme, and the social impact of the programs implemented prior to the tournament. Participants are encouraged to share their journeys on social media to create engagement and involve the community.
Ms. Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, Managing Director of SFA, commented: “SFA is proud to host the Global Goals World Cup in Saudi Arabia for the second time, the values of which align closely with our vision of promoting community participation, offering equal access to sports, and building a better society for all. I encourage all women in Saudi to embrace this unique opportunity, whether you are an athlete or completely new to the sport, to showcase leadership capabilities on the global stage while contributing to an enhanced quality of life for communities across the Kingdom.”
To apply, simply form your team of eight including one coach, choose a team name and SDG, and register on https://sportsforall.com.sa/ggwcup/. Once you have applied, start to brainstorm with your team on how use your SDG to do good in the community, and start planning your community work.
When your team has been accepted, submit your team photos, player names, and a description of your SDG initiatives on the website. There is no requirement on the number of initiatives that you must execute. Teams are encouraged to beginning planning and executing innovative community social good events and share the results and progress on Instagram and Twitter tagging @Saudi_SFA @GGWCUPKSA @GGWCup and using these hashtags #GGWCUP and #GGWCUPKSA.
In 2021, Saudi Arabia’s Team Kafo claimed victory in the first GGWCUP hosted in the Kingdom, before going in to compete in the finals held in Iceland. This year, SFA is aiming to have at least 10 teams register for the competition from each city, resulting in a campaign that will drive positive impact in every corner of the Kingdom. Teams from across the GCC are also welcomed to register for the final event in October, and a series of activations will be hosted on the sidelines of the tournament involving other sports including basketball and volleyball.
