Sport can transform reality: Celebrating the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

Fútbol Más is convinced that sport can transform the lives of children, young people and their communities, regardless of culture, language, religion, or gender, positioning sport and play as a transversal and universal psychosocial support strategy. Since its creation in Chile in 2007, Fútbol Más has focused its work on creating protected spaces, where sport and play are not just a form of entertainment, but a path to personal and community development.  

Fútbol Más understands sport as a tool to promote the biopsychosocial well-being of children, youth, and communities, strengthening fundamental life skills such as emotional self-regulation, assertive conflict resolution, and self-esteem. Through its socio-sports methodology, each participant is encouraged to develop social skills in a sports-based context, providing protected spaces for children and focusing on promoting their rights, gender equity, and inclusion. Thus, sport becomes a positive tool for transformation, breaking down barriers and generating opportunities for social integration, particularly in vulnerable communities and in crisis contexts.

Why is the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace important?

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace highlights the positive impact that sport has on people and communities. From its ability to promote values such as respect, empathy, and teamwork, to its potential to foster social inclusion and emotional well-being, sport is presented as a powerful tool for building a more peaceful and equitable society. This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on the power of sport to transform lives and communities. Fútbol Más celebrates this day with joy, reaffirming its commitment to creating protected spaces for children and promoting peace, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

The celebration of this day highlights the impact of Sport for Development and the progress achieved by Fútbol Más in various neighborhoods, schools, child protection centers, and migrant communities. Its work has contributed to the well-being of children and youth, as well as to the social cohesion of communities. Fútbol Más's social and sports methodology has been implemented in more than seven countries on different continents, benefiting more than 180,000 children and young people around the world.

Thus, Fútbol Más' methodology, based on the Sport for Development strategy, has improved the well-being of children, young people, and their communities through the development of life skills, the promotion of physical activity and mental health, and the creation of meaningful connections and learning experiences among participants in its various programs.

During 2024, children and young people from neighborhoods in Chile showed improvements in all the skills assessed, especially in their emotional regulation (+10.4 points), knowledge of emotions (+8.4 points) and self-concept (+7.6 points) (Emotions First Questionnaire developed by Education 2020, N=300 matches).

On the other hand, in Paraguay, school children reported an 11-point reduction in their feelings of nervousness before physical education class, suggesting greater confidence and security among participants regarding physical activity. (Soccer Más Scale, N=404 matches)

Another example is the results obtained by children in neighborhoods in Mexico, who recorded a 22-point decrease in the proportion of boys and girls in the "sedentary" category, which represents an improvement in participants' physical activity levels (APAL-Q, N=458 matches). Regarding safety and community belonging, the same group of children in Mexico recorded a 27-point increase in their perception of safety on their neighborhood field (Escala Fútbol Más, N=458 matches).

These results exemplify the transformative power of Sport for Development to generate positive changes in children's overall well-being. Beyond the numbers, the findings reflect how sports practice, when implemented with a structured methodological approach, can impact key aspects such as emotional regulation, confidence, security, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Furthermore, they demonstrate a strengthening of community and educational dynamics, highlighting the importance of creating safe and motivating spaces where children and young people can explore their abilities, develop resilience, and build mutually supportive relationships.

Based on the above, it's worth reflecting today on the factors that have contributed to these achievements and how they can be scaled or adapted to different contexts. How can we continue strengthening Sport for Development? How can we continue working to build happier communities?

Through play and sport, Fútbol Más continues to contribute to building resilient and cohesive communities, promoting prosocial behaviors through educational tools such as the Green Card. It will also continue to champion social inclusion, ensuring that children and young people from diverse backgrounds have access to the benefits of sport. In the future, Fútbol Más seeks to expand the scope of its interventions, replicating and scaling its social and sports methodology in more territories and contexts.

As we can see, sport not only promotes personal development but also acts as a catalyst for social cohesion and the promotion of fundamental values for community life. Fútbol Más embraces the challenge of continuing to transform realities through play and sport, convinced that every experience on the field can create opportunities for a more just and inclusive future. 
 

About the authors:

Katherine Hormazábal: International Methodology Coordinator for Fútbol Más. Social Worker, Alberto Hurtado University, Santiago, Chile. Master's Degree in Legal and Social Protection of Vulnerable People and Groups from the University of Cádiz, Spain.

Sebastián Pellicer : Information Management Coordinator at Fútbol Más, Sociologist, Catholic University of Santiago, Chile.