Friday, 17 July 2026
10 a.m. — 6 p.m ET
New York, USA
Taking place just ahead of the 2026 Men's World Cup Final, this global celebration with the UN Member States Friends of Football brings together young leaders, changemakers, policymakers, UN entities, governments, civil society, private sector partners, athletes and advocates to celebrate football and sports as powerful drivers of youth mental health and well-being.
A global, ecosystemic approach to youth mental health
One World, One Game, One Goal is part of the United Nations Youth Office’s flagship initiative on Youth Mental Health and Well-Being, advancing an important shift from fragmented, individual approaches to a holistic ecosystem model.
Mental health is shaped not only by healthcare systems but also by environments, education, community, digital spaces, and opportunities for connection. This initiative brings those elements together.
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What to expect
| 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Spotlight Sessions A series of partner-led spotlight sessions showcasing real-world solutions at the intersection of sport and youth mental health, surfacing diverse perspectives, lived experience and scalable solutions and models. Featuring contributions by:
With insights from entities across the UN system, including UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, UN Women and more. |
| 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Mental Health and Well-being Workshops Hands-on workshops that examine how sports can play a meaningful role in supporting youth mental health and well-being, drawing on a range of perspectives and experiences. A design workshop hosted by , where participants bring together sport jersey design and personal storytelling to explore what means most to them. |
| 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. | Football for Well-being Field Interactive, community-based activities where football meets conversation and connection. Expect hands-on engagement, storytelling and experiential learning around mental health and sports! Hosted by with the support of and —including workshop sessions with and . |
| 1:30-2:30 pm | Real People, Real Talk: A Conversation with Youth Mental Health Allies (by invitation) The UN Youth Office and UN Office of Partnerships are convening a distinguished group of advocates committed to spark meaningful progress on youth mental health and wellbeing. |
| 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Global Celebration of Football and Youth Mental Health A high-level moment bringing young people together with global leaders, athletes and advocates. This event highlights global commitments to advancing youth mental health and well-being through football and will culminate in the launch of a public advocacy campaign uniting public figures and youth leaders to elevate the topic on the world stage. Featuring:
Additional participants and supporters will be announced in the lead-up to the launch — stay tuned for more! |
| 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Rest is Part of the Game: Care Space Hosted by the Community Care Collective, a dedicated mental health care and reflection space, open to all young people and participants to access freely throughout the day. |
| 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Football for Mental Health Reception (by invitation) Hosted by the and , this closed-door reception brings together partners, allies and young leaders for networking and celebration. It will be a space to build connections, spark collaboration and continue building on the momentum from the day. |
*Stay tuned for final venue confirmations. All venues subject to availability and approval.
With the support of:
We will be joined by the following public figures and youth leaders as we elevate the topic of youth mental health and well-being on the world stage:
- Daniel Amokachi (Nigerian and African football legend)
- Gilberto Silva (Ex-footballer and entrepreneur)
- Maca Sanchez (First Argentinian professional female football player)
- Mauro Silva (1994 World Cup Champion)
- Young Leaders for the SDGs
Additional participants and supporters will be announced in the lead-up to the event — stay tuned for more!
One World, One Game, One Goal is made possible with the generous support of organizations including:
- and
- and
Join the conversation
In collaboration with , we are inviting everyone to participate in an interactive experience designed to engage young people in decision-making around mental health and sport.
Through this digital platform, you can:
- Share your perspectives and experiences with sport and mental health
- Shape conversations that will inform the event and the upcoming advocacy campaign
- Contribute to a growing global dataset on youth mental health priorities.
Your voice will directly feed into discussions at the United Nations.
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Why football?
As the world’s most popular sport, football provides a universal platform to:
- Build belonging and social connection
- Strengthen emotional resilience
- Promote inclusion, dignity and collective well-being.
Under the banner “One World, One Game, One Goal,” football becomes a tool for advocacy, action and systems change, on a truly global stage at the United Nations in a World Cup year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The event will be held in person at UN Headquarters in New York. However, sessions in the main conference rooms will be broadcast live on UN WebTV, allowing global audiences to follow key discussions. Stay tuned on this page for the livestream links closer to the date of the event.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide travel funding, accommodation or scholarships. Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own costs.
A formal confirmation letter, issued in accordance with United Nations procedures, is provided upon registration to support your participation. Please note visa issuance remains under the authority of the host country, and we are not able to provide additional support beyond the confirmation letter.
The programme is currently being finalized, and we are unable to accommodate individual speaking roles. We appreciate your interest and will keep all participant details in mind should opportunities arise.
In the meantime, we encourage all attendees to and help shape the programme and advocacy messages.
We appreciate your interest. Opportunities are limited, but we will reach out to confirmed attendees for expressions of interest if suitable roles become available.
Participants are encouraged to make accommodation arrangements based on their own preferences, budget and location needs. When booking accommodations, participants are advised to ask about discounted rates available for those attending United Nations meetings. Please be aware that a credit card is required to secure any reservation. It is also recommended to explore different booking websites, such as , and , to find lodging options conveniently located near the UN Headquarters.
Ticket pickup: Special Event Tickets will be available for pick up at United Nations Visitor Center, 46th St & 1st Ave, New York, NY 10017, on the following tentative* time slots:
- Thursday July 16th 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Friday July 17th 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
* Note: these times are tentative and will be confirmed here closer to the event date.
Please note: All attendees must register in advance for a UN Special Events Ticket, which MUST match their name EXACTLY as in their government-issued photo ID. .
For reasonable accommodations, please indicate accordingly when completing . For additional support, kindly email youthaffairs@un.org and include “accommodations” in the subject line, and we would be glad to assist.
There is no set dress code; we encourage all attendees to wear whatever is comfortable, including sporting/athletic wear or national football jerseys in the spirit of the event! Please note: visible public displays, signs, banners, or political flags are not permitted on the UN premises.
Participants will automatically be registered for all open sessions throughout the day, and their Special Events Ticket will provide access to all event spaces. However, attendees can choose how much of the programme they would like to attend throughout the day.
Please make sure to bring a government-issued photo ID to pick up the Special Event Ticket, and reference this webpage for a more comprehensive list of what items are allowed or prohibited on the UN Headquarters.
Yes, all minors (under 18 years old) can attend if accompanied by a legal guardian or adult chaperone, who must also be registered.
Please note each chaperone can accompany a maximum of 10 minors, and both the young person and the chaperone must have Special Event Tickets and valid government-issued IDs ready for security verification.