July 9 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the United Nations’ Football for the Goals (FFTG) initiative have expanded their footprint with 20 new FA’s set to join the 12 AFC FA’s who are already members.
FFTG uses the power of football to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It engages clubs, leagues, federations, and players to raise awareness, foster partnerships, and take measurable action for people and the planet.
The Football Association of Indonesia, Chinese FA and the Philippine Football Federation are the latest applicants, bringing the total number of AFC Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) currently under review to 20. Meanwhile, The Football Association of Thailand, Football Association of Brunei Darussalam, Tajikistan Football Federation and Football Association of Maldives have joined the eight existing members
“We are encouraged by the growing engagement of both our MAs and RAs with the FFTG initiative. This movement signals the significant rise in awareness of football’s unique role in creating inclusive, equitable, and resilient communities across Asia,” said Vahid Kardany, Secretary to the AFC Dream Asia Foundation and the AFC Deputy General Secretary – Member Associations.
Through FFTG, football organisations promote the SDGs by adopting responsible business practices, championing social inclusion, and sustainable development messaging. Membership is voluntary, non-binding, and without financial obligation.
Robert Skinner, chief of partnerships and global engagement in the UN’s Department of Global Communications, said: “When football and the United Nations stand together, we send a powerful message: the SDGs are everyone’s game, and every goal counts. Football for the Goals is proud of our collaboration with the AFC for the upcoming AFC Dream Asia Foundation Conference, a significant opportunity to advance football’s role for sustainable development in the region.”
The AFC Dream Asia Foundation Conference 2025 will be held on October 15, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the UN FFTG Secretariat. The event will bring together football stakeholders, UN agencies, NGOs, and civil society to exchange knowledge and strengthen collaboration in leveraging football for sustainable development.
“The Dream Asia Foundation Conference will be a gateway to deeper FFTG engagement for our Member Associations and Regional Associations,” said Kardany. “This collaboration enables us to localise global goals through football and integrate social responsibility into the strategic priorities of Asian football.”
Total number of applications:
- Afghanistan Football Federation
- ASEAN Football Federation
- Central Asian Football Association
- Chinese Football Association
- Federação Futebol de Timor-Leste
- Football Association of Singapore
- Football Federation of Cambodia
- Football Association of Indonesia
- Football Federation of Sri Lanka
- Guam Football Association
- Iraqi Football Association
- The Kyrgyz Football Union
- Lao Football Federation
- Mongolian Football Federation
- Myanmar Football Federation
- Pakistan Football Federation
- Philippine Football Federation
- Uzbekistan Football Association
- Vietnam Football Federation
- Yemen Football Association
Existing members:
- Bangladesh Football Federation
- Bhutan Football Federation
- Football Association of Brunei Darussalam
- Football Association of Maldives
- The Football Association of Thailand
- Japan Football Association
- Jordan Football Association
- Oman Football Association
- South Asian Football Federation
- Tajikistan Football Federation
- UAE Football Association
- West Asian Football Federation
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