A Movement Gathering Momentum

The scale of the Common Goal community is impressive. The network has grown to 192 member organisations operating in over 100 countries. Together, they directly engaged over 3.6 million people in 2024—a significant increase from the previous year—and indirectly reached nearly 9 million. This growth isn’t just in reach; it’s also in professionalism. The community’s global workforce of paid staff and coaches grew to 11,693, signalling a greater investment in delivering high-quality, sustainable programmes. The total annual turnover across the community also rose to €320 million, demonstrating the sector’s increasing economic footprint.

Tackling Society’s Toughest Challenges

Common Goal’s members are using football as a vehicle to address a diverse range of complex issues. The most prominent priorities in 2024 were Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, followed closely by Youth Leadership and Empowerment and Community Cohesion and Social Inclusion. These organisations are on the front line, responding directly to the critical needs of their communities, which include unemployment, discrimination, and a lack of access to quality education. The focus is on creating safe spaces where young people can thrive, a commitment captured perfectly by one community leader: “Safeguarding is not just a policy for us; it is a culture we are committed to and actively promote across all aspects of our work.”

Navigating Financial Hurdles

Despite the community’s collective financial growth, the report highlights a persistent challenge: financial stability remains fragile for many. While total turnover is high, nearly two-thirds of member organisations describe their financial footing as neutral, unstable, or very unstable. The biggest hurdle identified was high competition for funds, cited by 45% of organisations as a major challenge. This points to an ongoing need for more accessible and consistent funding to ensure the long-term sustainability of their vital work.

A Vision for the Future

The feedback from the community is overwhelmingly positive, with 97% of members saying they would recommend Common Goal to others. Looking ahead, the community has clearly voiced its priorities. The most requested area for support is funding and fundraising, followed by communications, programme design, and greater opportunities for partnership and collaboration. Common Goal is listening, and has outlined a clear path forward focused on expanding funding access, deepening thematic support, and fostering more collaboration to build a movement that truly reflects the power of football for good.