Mastercard launches UCL final initiative

This weekend’s final between Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Spain’s Real Madrid is set to take place at London’s Wembley Stadium.

British artist Helen Kirkum created the football using preloved boots from children’s football charity Bloomsbury Football, which have been stitched together to create a patchwork for the planet.

The Pledge Ball was inspired by Mastercard’s work with sustainability and sports charity Pledgeball for Champions Innovate – UEFA’s inaugural programme for sponsors and start-ups to enhance the social and environmental impact of the 2024 Champions League Final, and host city London.

Former footballer and five-time UEFA Champions League winner Gareth Bale has supported the campaign by adding a pledge to “drink plant-based milk alternatives”.

Speaking at a Mastercard panel on the power of football to inspire change, Bale said: “I’ve been lucky enough to achieve my goals in football, score a few too, and think it’s important that we all try to set personal goals for the things that are important to us. It’s why I’ve given my pledge to the Mastercard Pledge Ball, and I hope the 450 million fans set to watch the final next week are inspired to do the same. If football has a superpower, it’s teamwork, and I think that’s exactly what our planet needs a bit of right now.”

New research from Mastercard shows 80% of UK football fans feel sustainability is important to them, while almost two-thirds would like more help in making sustainable choices. In the UK, the matchday actions fans would find easiest to adopt are switching to e-tickets (38%), using reusable cups (36%), avoiding single-use plastics at the stadium (33%), or travelling to the match using public transport (29%).

Pledgeball added that if 90,000 people – the capacity of Wembley Stadium – reduced their shower time to five minutes, the emissions saved would be equivalent to permanently taking over 500 cars off the road.

“Football fans across Europe are proudly passionate about the game and its power to bring us together. The UEFA Champions League Final is the perfect moment to highlight the role we can all play, both big and small, in making positive change. Together, we can make a difference and inspire a lasting legacy for the next generation of football,” said Beatrice Corncacchia, Executive Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Mastercard Europe.

“As the football community, we have the potential to drive change like nothing else. We all want clean air, stable food systems, green spaces and conditions that allow us to enjoy the game that we love, and making our voices heard through our words and actions can drive the rapid transition we need,” added Katie Cross, Founder of Pledgeball.

“This campaign and the fantastic collaboration with Mastercard has given us the opportunity to really illustrate this collective drive and potential power that football and its community has.”

Image: Mastercard/Pledgeball