Sports giant Adidas sign up to Manchester United star Juan Mata’s Common Goal initiative by pledging to donate one percent of their global sales from footballs until 2023
- Adidas has agreed a two-year link-up with Juan Mata’s Common Goal initiative
- The sports giants have pledged to donate 1% of their global sales from footballs
- The initiative’s raised £2.6m, which has been invested in football-based charities
Sports giant Adidas has pledged one percent of global net sales from footballs to Common Goal, the initiative kickstarted by Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata.
The German-based organisation, which provides the official ball for Euro 2020, has agreed a link-up until 2023 in a huge step forward for Common Goal’s project of using football to help social change around the globe.
Launched in 2017, when Mata committed to pledge one percent of his salary to a collective fund, the project can now boast almost 200 players and managers, including Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini, Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Chelsea’s Timo Werner and former Manchester United women’s manager Casey Stoney.
Adidas has pledged one percent of global net sales from footballs to Common Goal
The sports giants, which provides the official ball for Euro 2020, agreed a link up until 2023
To date, over £2.6million has been generated and invested in football-based charities but it is hoped the support from such a recognised brand as Adidas will take its profile and message to another level.
Mata, who co-founded Common Goal with Jürgen Griesbeck and signed a new one year contract with United last week, said: ‘I’ve been a part of the adidas family for many years and with Common Goal from the very beginning, so this collaboration is very special.
‘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. For me, team play is the most important thing and through solidarity, empathy and effort, I believe that anyone can reach their goals. Our ambition is to make Common Goal the biggest football club in the world, where everyone is welcome.’
Griesbeck added: ‘This partnership with adidas represents a shift in the football industry. Social impact has moved to a high priority for football stakeholders. Adidas has shown its leadership in investing in Common Goal and together we can scale and accelerate football’s contribution towards the global goals.’
Adidas say the partnership is built upon shared values; using sport to improve the lives of young people around the world and have targeted ‘making a positive impact on over 90,000 lives as they strive to make the game more inclusive for all’.
Projects planned include: Global Goal 5 Accelerator – creating a world where every girl has the opportunity to develop her full potential.
The Common Goal initiative was kickstarted by Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata
The Anti-Racist Project – to end racism in football: on the field, on the sidelines, in the front office and across our communities.
Play Proud – making grassroots football organisations, programmes, and communities around the world inclusive for LGBTQ+ communities.
Global Goal 16 Impact – empowering young people to shape their communities and play a key role in creating peaceful and inclusive societies.
Gonzalo Calvo, Director for Communities and Culture, at adidas, said: ‘At adidas, we are committed to creating change through football. We cannot do this alone, however, and therefore look to individuals and organisations with a shared commitment to action, such as Common Goal. This is a team effort, and it was important to announce this partnership and our ambitions for it during the most collaborative and inclusive football tournament in European history. This is just the start.’
To join adidas and Common Goal at the starting line, fans can purchase a football at www.adidas.co.uk/balls for their 1% to be contributed toward social change causes.
Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini is one of several big names donating 1% of wages to Common Goal
