Common Goal: August Highlights

Milestones and firsts round up this month’s stand out moments

After a short hiatus, August saw the return of club football to European shores as Common celebrated our fourth anniversary with the launch of our debut football shirts.

We also welcomed multiple new additions to the Common Goal team, reached a double century in members, and announced the launch of our latest project.

Common Goal Releases Debut Shirts Celebrating 4th Anniversary

Common Goal teamed up with SoccerBible and Avery Dennison to create two custom-designed limited edition shirts worthy of amplifying its overall mission: uniting the global football community to tackle existing issues and drive social change.

From using football to power gender equality, fight racism, promote LGBTQ+ inclusion, and create peaceful and inclusive communities, all shirts purchased via Common Goal channels will be directly invested into football-based projects.

The release marked the four-year anniversary since Juan Mata became the first Common Goal member to pledge a minimum of 1% of his salary back in 2017.

Read more here.

Jess Silva, Fredi Bobic, Libby Copus-Brown, and Collin Martin Join the Movement

Hertha BSC Sporting Director Fredi Bobic made the 1% pledge in August become the latest member from the Bundesliga to join Common Goal.

“The 1% movement of Common Goal has been on the public radar for a while now - it doesn't have to just be one percent, but above all, it’s about making a commitment to the many great projects that Common Goal implements,” he said.

Also joining the movement was Portuguese international and Kansas City player Jess Silva.

“I want to show that football is about passion, love, union, solidarity and respect. At the same time, I want to help football more accessible to minorities,” she said.

Collin Martin, the first active openly male gay athlete to play in any top division professional men’s national football leagues, joined Common Goal as part of his aim to make the game more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community.

“I first met the Common Goal team while I was playing in Minnesota and I was blown away by all the work they were already doing around the world,” he said. 

“I decided to join because speaking about the change you want to see in sport is ultimately not enough.

“Common Goal is actively doing the work that I think is necessary to make Soccer for All a reality and I'm proud to be a part of their team. 

“I'm pledging 1% of my salary to the Play Proud project because I know how much of an influence a coach can have in a team setting.

“By giving coaches the right education on how to make their teams more inclusive, Play Proud is making sport a more welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community.”

Last but not least to make the 1% pledge was Australian midfielder Libby Copus-Brown.

Movement Passes 200 Members

After a little more than four years since launching, Common Goal has reached the milestone of 200 members.

A double-century of players and managers have now pledged a minimum of 1% of their annual salaries to drive social change through football.

That now means Common Goal now has a total of 205 player and manager members, honing from 48 different nationalities, and representing 60 different leagues, who are working side-by-side to tackle social issues: from advancing gender equality to driving jobs and growth to promoting greater peace, fighting racism, and social justice.

Read more here.

Common Goal Launches Playing for Peace

Common Goal has teamed up with 11 football-based partner organisations to launch Playing for Peace: a project that seeks to strengthen the position of young people in decision-making processes and influence peaceful conflict resolution towards the creation of peaceful, inclusive societies.

Playing for Peace will train 45 young leaders across Common Goal partner organisations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East as local Peace Agents in areas of leadership, egalitarian thinking, non-violent communication & conflict-resolution.

The joint project will run for three years, where young leaders from the participating communities will build strong skills in the areas of leadership, inclusive thinking, non-violent communication and conflict-resolution.

Read more here.