adidas is pledging 1% of global net sales from footballs to the charity Common Goal until 2023 in an effort to help drive lasting social change for underserved communities worldwide.  

Since 2017 the movement has seen 200 individuals pledge their support including the likes of Common Goal’s co-founder Juan Mata, Serge Gnabry, Jürgen Klopp, Paulo Dybala, Casey Stoney MBE and UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin. By encouraging professional players, officials and clubs to donate a minimum of 1% of their earnings to support high-impact initiatives across the globe, Common Goal hopes to create a better and more inclusive future through football. To date, over €3M has been generated by the movement and invested in football-based charities that support the United Nations Global Goals.

The initial three-year partnership will see adidas and Common Goal support grassroots community organisations across the globe via a network of 140 high-impact football NGOs in 90 countries.

The aim is to directly impact 90,000 lives through a series of projects focused on removing inequality and tackling discrimatination, improving access, and working towards greater gender parity.

Speaking about the project, Manchester United midfielder Mata said: “This partnership will help us to use football as a force for good and come together to try and tackle social issues as one. This is really only the start. Our ambition is to make Common Goal the biggest football club in the world, where everyone is welcome.”

This partnership announcement is the latest chapter in adidas long-term commitment to inspiring a movement of people to see – and push towards – a more positive and inclusive world through sport. With the support of adidas, Common Goal’s long-term aim to unlock 1% of the entire football industry’s revenues - estimated to be €50 billion per year - is all the more possible.

To join adidas and Common Goal at the starting line, fans can purchase a football at adidas.co.uk for their 1% to be contributed toward social change causes. For more information on Common Goal, please visit: common-goal.org and follow @commongoalorf on Instagram and Twitter. To find your nearest adidas Football Collective community or project, please visit: www.adidas.co.uk/footballcollective