FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) by launching a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, who are calling on all people around the world to follow five key steps to stop the spread of the disease.
In the video material provided for editorial purposes, football stars from around the world convey the key messages in their mother tongue. Feel free to use it and pass the message.
- English: video of Carli Lloyd (USA) and Michael Owen (ENG)
- French: video of Youri Djorkaeff (FRA), Laura Georges (FRA) and Samuel Eto’o (CMR)
- Spanish: video of Lionel Messi (ARG), Radamel Falcao (COL), Juan Sebastián Verón (ARG) and Jared Borgetti (MEX)
- Spanish: video of Carles Puyol (ESP), Xavi Hernández (ESP) and Iker Casillas (ESP)
- German: video of Philipp Lahm (GER), Célia Šašić (GER) and Miroslav Klose (GER)
- Arabic: video of Sami Al Jaber (KSA) and Mido (EGY)
The campaign launch video is also available for download and can be used for editorial purposes.
The “Pass the message to kick out coronavirus” campaign promotes five key steps for people to follow to protect their health in line with WHO guidance, focused on hand washing, coughing etiquette, not touching your face, physical distance and staying home if feeling unwell.
“FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino have been actively involved in passing the message against this pandemic since the very beginning,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the virtual launch of the campaign at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. “Be it through campaigns or funding, FIFA has stood up to the coronavirus, and I am delighted that world football is supporting WHO to kick out the coronavirus. I have no doubt with this type of support that together we will win.”
“We need teamwork to combat the coronavirus,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “FIFA has teamed up with WHO because health comes first. I call upon the football community worldwide to join us in supporting this campaign to pass the message even further. Some of the greatest players to have played the beautiful game have put their names to the campaign and are united in their desire to pass the message to kick out COVID-19.”
FIFA have also pledged $10 million to support the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO.