Houston 2026 supports Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports

The adoption of this bill is in line with the bid’s Grow the Game initiative and bold human rights strategy.

The Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, developed by the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, through its Project Play initiative, will ensure full opportunity and participation of children to play sports, and is made up of eight rights aimed to advance youth sports in Houston, including:

• To play sports
• To safe and healthy environments
• To qualified program leaders
• To developmentally appropriate play
• To share in the planning and delivery of their activities
• To an equal opportunity for personal growth
• To be treated with dignity
• To enjoy themselves

The Bill of Rights has been adopted by over 130 organizations so far, including UNICEF USA, premier sports associations, sports businesses, and NGOs.

Houston’s efforts to promote the Bill of Rights began in 2019 when it set out to develop a comprehensive and community-driven human rights report, as part of the city’s bid to host the World Cup. Houston 2026 engaged with more than 100 local, national, and international stakeholders, and outlined 73 activities with built-in enforcement mechanisms to enhance human rights in eight areas and ensure human rights protections and advancements are central to all areas of the bid committee’s delivery plan.

Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee President Chris Canetti said: “The City of Houston continues to make bold advancements to affect change, address critical social issues and advance human rights. The adoption of the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports is fully aligned with FIFA’s human rights goals and our Grow the Game initiative. It will ensure that every child has access to sports and benefit generations to come.”

Houston 2026’s Grow the Game initiative is aimed at providing underserved communities access to the world’s most popular sport, and has already launched two grassroots youth soccer programs – Freekicks Soccer and Girls’ Intro to Soccer. As a part of the initiative, Houston 2026 has also partnered with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to build 30 mini pitches in underserved communities throughout the region.

Most recently, Houston 2026 and the City of Houston Mayor’s Office held a human rights think tank, as part of Soccer Innovation Institute, to discuss the intersection of children’s rights in sports and reduction in gender-based violence. The human rights think tank was the first installment of the Soccer Innovation Institute, which will carry out the city’s legacy vision around the 2026 FIFA World Cup.