Chief Football Development Officer, Jason Roberts, Highlights Football’s Transformative Power at World Football Day Panel

As part of this year’s World Football Day commemorations, Concacaf proudly participated in two days of meaningful dialogue hosted by the United Nations Football for the Goals (FFTG) program—an initiative uniting football stakeholders to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Concacaf, a proud member of the FFTG initiative, was represented by Jason Roberts, Chief Football Development Officer, who also serves on the FFTG Board.

Among the series of events was a special breakfast panel hosted at UNICEF House in New York, where Roberts joined fellow leaders to discuss how football is being used to create tangible social impact across regions. In his remarks, Roberts spotlighted Concacaf’s Bigger Game—a manifestation of the confederation’s commitment to harnessing the power of football to improve the communities in which we play.

Bigger Game is designed to promote social cohesion, teamwork, trust, resilience, effort, discipline, respect, and healthy living by increasing access to opportunity through football and social responsibility initiatives. Through this work, Concacaf invites partners and communities to help forge a brighter future across the region and beyond.

“Football is more than a game. It’s a tool to educate, to unify, and to protect. Through Bigger Game, we’re investing in the people and places that make football a source of joy and opportunity,” Roberts said during the panel.

The initiative also contributes to several UN Sustainable Development Goals by enhancing emotional and social well-being, developing soft skills through non-formal education, and building stronger, more engaged communities through grassroots leadership.

“Our vision is rooted in the belief that football belongs to everyone,” added Roberts. “And when we invest in football the right way—by centering safety, inclusion, and opportunity—we play a Bigger Game for our whole region.”

Concacaf was honored to contribute to the Football for the Goals discussions and share how regional football development is helping achieve global impact—on and off the pitch.