Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has today announced a partnership with global football for good network Common Goal, co-founded by Spanish footballer Juan Mata, to launch a significant initiative which will enhance and promote the Football For Good community across Australia.
The collaboration marks the first partnership between Common Goal and a player association and aims to harness the power of football to deliver social impact both locally and globally. The partnership was officially launched at a media event in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon.
Through the agreement, PFA and Common Goal will work together to:
- Raise awareness for the Football For Good community among Australia’s socially conscious and community-minded footballers;
- See PFA and Common Goal organise ‘Football For Good’ events and fundraising initiatives; and
- Leverage the PFA’s Footballers’ Trust to identify community projects for player funding
As part of the initiative, Australian footballers will be invited to pledge 1% of their football earnings as Common Goal members or donate a chosen amount to causes they care about.
Contributions will support PFA accredited grassroots and community-led organisations that use football to drive positive social change. Organisations include:
- Australian Blind Football
- Football Empowerment
- Football Futures
- Football United (Creating Chances)
- Heartbeat of Football
- John Moriarty Football
- One Ball
- PlayrProject
- Pride Cup
- Reflect Forward
- Transplant Australia Football Club
Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Juan Mata, who co-founded Common Goal in 2017, helped to launch the partnership and promote a message of football-led impact.
“Australia has a passionate football culture and has an incredible opportunity to lead with purpose,” Mata said. “Through this partnership with the PFA, we want to inspire Australian players to see how they can use their platform to make a meaningful difference in their communities and beyond.”
Joining Mata at the event was Alex Brosque, and representatives from Common Goal-supported community organisations including Football United.
“Professional player engagement is paramount to supporting our work with children and young people for the inspiration they bring,” Anne Bunde-Birouste, Common Goal Advisory Co-Chair and founder of Football United said.
“This world-first collaboration will greatly enable Australian players to get involved with football for good organisations, helping us help our communities through the magic of football.”
Common Goal Co-Chair and former Matilda Moya Dodd said:
“As the world’s biggest football-for-good network, Common Goal can link Australia with the broader global movement as well as inspire local efforts that will make a difference here. It’s very exciting to join forces with the PFA to bring social purpose to the forefront of our game. Football teaches us so much as individual players; this is football’s chance to bring learning to society at large.”
A growing number of Australian footballers have already joined Common Goal, including Brosque, Caitlin Foord, Aivi Luik, Angela Beard, Winonah Heatley, Izzy Dalton, Libby Copus-Brown and Alex Chidiac.
The initiative is supported domestically through the PFA’s Footballers’ Trust, which offers players a platform to donate their football-related income.
Since its inception in 2019, the Trust has contributed $500,000 in player donations to 24 charities, human rights organisations, inclusion initiatives, and football programs across Australia and internationally.
Click here to read more about the Footballers’ Trust.
PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch said the partnership reinforces the values that should underpin professional football in Australia.
“Football has the power to be a genuine force for good. This partnership gives our members another opportunity to be part of a global movement and to create lasting social impact off the pitch,” Busch said.
About the ‘Football For Good’ Community Programs
| Organisation | Purpose |
| Australian Blind Football (ABF) | ABF is an initiative of Blind Sports Australia. ABF is working with Football Australia (FA) to be the recognised national pathway by for people who are blind or vision impaired to play football for Australia. |
| Football Empowerment
| Football Empowerment is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to address social issues facing young people from disadvantaged communities through football and was established in 2016 in the western suburbs of Melbourne. |
| Football Futures Foundation (FFF) | FFF implements various football for good projects in disadvantaged communities in Western Australia. Through their programs, the organisation equips young people with critical life skills and promotes school attendance, employment readiness and other forms of youth education and training. |
| Football United (Creating Chances) | Football United uses the power of sport to help integrate young refugees and families from diverse backgrounds into society in Australia. They create safe spaces that are free and accessible for young people to build and sustain vital social ties in their local communities. |
| Heartbeat of Football (HoF) | HoF promotes healthy hearts in sport via: · awareness and education: player, participant and community programs; · prevention: minimisation of health risks via simple screening checks; and · action: advocating for “rescue-ready” defibrillators at all sporting fields around the country |
| John Moriarty Football (JMF) | JMF is an award-winning initiative that harnesses the power of football to positively engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, with powerful impacts on health, education, wellbeing and connection to Country. |
| One Ball | One Ball is an inclusive soccer program based in Melbourne, designed to provide high-quality football experiences for young people. The program emphasises accessibility, community engagement, and personal development through sport, ensuring that participants of all abilities can enjoy and benefit from playing football. |
| Playr Project | Though a combination of events and community programs, the Playr Project creates opportunities for young female players and coaches in Australia to play, learn and thrive, promoting equal representation of women in football |
| Pride Cup | Pride Cup is an Australian non-for-profit which challenges homophobia and transphobia within sporting clubs – with the objective of making sport and clubs more welcoming for LGBTIQ+ fans, players and officials. |
| Reflect Forward | Reflect Forward is an anti-racism initiative in sports. It educates young Australians about the impacts of racism through the power of sport, working with schools, elite athletes, and national sporting organisations to strive for the eradication of racism. |
| Transplant Australia Football Club (TAFC)
| TAFC has been a beacon of hope, resilience, and unity. Comprised entirely of players whose lives have been saved by the selfless act of organ and tissue donation, TAFC embodies the spirit of triumph over adversity. |
Australian Common Goal Members
- Juan Mata (Western Sydney Wanderers)
- Alex Brosque
- Alex Chidiac (Melbourne Victory)
- Caitlin Foord (Arsenal)
- Aivi Luik (BK Häcken FF)
- Angela Beard (Linköpings FC)
- Winonah Heatley (FC Nordsjælland)
- Ayesha Norrie (Brisbane Roar)
- Beattie Goad (Retired, Melbourne Victory)
- Courtney Newbon (Melbourne Victory)
- Izzy Dalton (Perth Glory)
- Libby Copus-Brown (Newcastle Jets)
About Common Goal
Common Goal is a global network that connects the football industry with community-driven initiatives tackling the most pressing challenges of our time. Through a shared commitment to collective action, the network unites players, clubs, brands, and grassroots organisations to drive progress in three key areas: social inclusion, gender equity, and climate change. Active in over 100 countries, Common Goal harnesses football’s cultural and financial influence to help build a more just, equitable, and sustainable future — for people and planet.
