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CONCACAF says it joined UNbacked "Football for the Goals" to advance SDG 17 and expand access to the game
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Summary
Jason Roberts, CONCACAFchief development officer, described the federation's late-2023 joining of Football for the Goals, partnerships around Sustainable Development Goal 17, Generation Amazing programs across 41 member countries, and efforts tied to the 2026 World Cup and growth of women's football.
CONCACAF joined the Football for the Goals platform in late 2023 to expand partnerships under Sustainable Development Goal 17 and use football to increase access and social impact across the confederation, the federation's chief development officer said.
Jason Roberts, chief development officer at CONCACAF, told meeting attendees that the federation joined the initiative "because we believe in the unique power of the United Nations" and that the move supports partnerships for the goals under SDG 17.
Roberts said CONCACAF views football as a simple, broadly accessible sport that can "empower communities, empowering young people" and build social cohesion. He said the federation has prioritized access to the sport and cited recent programs and events as evidence of that work.
Roberts pointed to CONCACAF's recent expansion of the women's game, noting the confederation held its first women's Gold Cup in 2024. He also described a partnership with Generation Amazing, saying that program will "be delivered in all 41 of our countries" over the next couple of years. Roberts framed those efforts as part of a broader strategy to leverage major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to leave a lasting legacy across the region.
On legacy and inclusion, Roberts quoted CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani: "a ball is round, that it has no gender, it has no color, it has no beliefs. It's only a ball, and we all play with it no matter where we are, no matter what our religious beliefs or anything else." Roberts said that message aligns with the aims of Football for the Goals.
Roberts did not provide specific funding amounts, implementation timelines beyond the general "next couple of years" for Generation Amazing rollout, or metrics for how access will be measured. He described the federation's goals in broad terms: stronger partnerships, more access to play, and leveraging the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
The presentation was descriptive; no formal actions, votes or budget decisions were recorded during the remarks.
