Launch of FIFA's Educational Soccer Initiative in Nepal
In a landmark move aimed at promoting physical activity, life skills, and holistic child development, the FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) program has officially been launched in Nepal. This collaborative initiative brings together FIFA, UNESCO, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The F4S program seeks to enhance the physical, mental, social, and moral development of school children by integrating football into the school curriculum. By doing so, it aims to promote not only sports skills but also important life skills such as teamwork, discipline, leadership, self-confidence, gender equality, and social inclusion.
Objectives and Implementation
The F4S program was launched on July 31, 2025, at Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu, with the participation of Nepal’s Prime Minister and key sports and education officials. The program will be implemented in 1,072 schools across all 77 districts of Nepal, with 32,640 footballs being distributed to these schools to ensure access to equipment.
Training will be provided for school teachers, football coaches, and ANFA officials to use football effectively as a teaching tool for life skills and sports training. A pilot phase covered 270 schools across seven provinces and nearly 50 districts, with plans to expand nationwide. Ongoing coordination and support by ANFA and the ministries involved, including specialized coach training and Safeguarding Officer capacity building, will ensure the program's success.
Impact on School-Level Football in Nepal
The F4S program promises to provide structured football opportunities in schools, increasing access to sports for approximately 600,000 children aged 4 to 14. It enhances the quality of football coaching and physical education at the grassroots level, encourages inclusion by reaching children from diverse social backgrounds and promoting gender equality, and builds a foundation for long-term football talent development nationwide.
The program also supports physical and mental health and instills life skills that benefit students beyond sports. It catalyzes government and institutional commitment to improving sports infrastructure, as reflected in plans to build larger stadiums and enhance sports facilities.
A Strategic Investment in Nepal's Youth
The launch and rollout of the F4S program represent a significant and strategic investment in Nepal’s youth sports and education sectors, with expected broad social and sporting benefits at the school level and beyond. This initiative underscores the government's priority in developing the sports sector, as evidenced by the construction of a new large football stadium in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur.
Antonio Buenano Sanchez, Manager of the FIFA Football for Schools Program, and Technical Advisor Alberto Giacomini had arrived in Nepal to brief on the operation of the program. The program's launch was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, Minister for Youth and Sports Tejulal Chaudhary, Vice-Chairman of the National Sports Council Dhruba Acharya, Member Secretary of the National Sports Council Tanklal Ghising, ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, and other dignitaries and officials. During the launch event, Prime Minister Oli distributed footballs to nearly one thousand schools free of charge.
In conclusion, the FIFA Football for Schools program is set to revolutionize the landscape of sports and education in Nepal, fostering a generation of well-rounded, confident, and inclusive individuals, while nurturing future world-class football talent from Nepal.
- To further promote education and self-development in Nepal, MBA schools could consider incorporating the FIFA Football for Schools program as a case study in their curriculum, allowing students to learn about the program's impact on child development, sports infrastructure, and talent development.
- While the FIFA Football for Schools program primarily focuses on football and education, some schools might also consider integrating other sports, such as basketball or volleyball, to offer a more diverse range of learning opportunities for students, reinforcing the importance of teamwork, discipline, and leadership.
- Post-launch, some IT schools in Nepal could develop databases and analytics solutions to track the progress and impact of the FIFA Football for Schools program, providing insights on participation rates, skill development, and overall social benefits, ultimately facilitating better decision-making and future program enhancements.
