The Ball 2022-2023

People often ask if we have a spare ball in case we lose the one we are carrying. No, we reply, there is only One Ball and only One World, and we have to look after both.

The Ball – football’s equivalent to the Olympic Torch – has been kicked by Spirit of Football to 5 FIFA World Cups, visited 50+ countries and inspired more than 50,000 people.

The Ball 2022-2023 will be travelling to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand instead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.

The Ball 2022-2023 has kicked off!

The Ball 2022-2023 was officially launched at Battersea Park, London on 10th July 2022. For the first time ever, The Ball will be travelling to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and NOT to the Men’s World Cup. Football’s equivalent to the Olympic Torch was kicked off from its “Mount Olympus” – Battersea Park in London – where the first official game of FA Rules football was played on 9th January 1864.

The Story So Far

  • 48 Partners
  • 22 Events
  • 539,295 kg/year CO2e savings pledged
New Zealand international Katie Rood kicks off The Ball 2022-2023

More than 50 partner organisations and individuals from more than 30 countries will be joining us on this special journey to take action on three of the Sustainable Development Goals set out in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly: Climate Action, Gender Equality and Fair Play.

Ella Williams sings for The Ball

“When I first learned about the Spirit of Football, I loved their message and their tactic of harnessing the crazy energy of football fans to target global issues. Still Running was my attempt to combine soccer and climate action into the theme song for their upcoming trip around the world.”
— Ella Williams

Spirit of Football and Pledgeball at COP26

For 20 years The Ball has raised awareness of global issues. Now is The Ball’s moment to take climate action. What quantity of emissions can the people that it encounters collectively pledge to save? We invite you to kick, head and sign The Ball – and then make a pledge yourself.

Make your pledge with The Ball

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The Ball is going on its first ever journey to a Women’s World Cup in Australia & New Zealand. Anyone and everyone is invited to sign it. Sign The Ball, make your Climate Pledge here and challenge others to do it too!

Pledge now!