It was just announced today that the sixth annual Match against Poverty is happening in Casablanca, Morocco, on November 17.
Since they’re serving as Goodwill Ambassadors for the United Nations, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zidane are both stepping up to captain their own World XI squads for this friendly match. It's a pretty big deal, really. I remember watching one of those old exhibition games back in the day—nothing quite like seeing icons share a pitch just for the cause. But yeah, they'll be leading these international rosters of world-renowned players.
The whole point of this thing is really just about getting people moving—rallying everyone together to help tackle poverty head-on. It’s all geared toward pushing those UN Sustainable Development Goals forward, you know? The big aim there is to actually cut global poverty in half by 2015. It's a massive undertaking, but that's the goal.
So, looking at the timeline between 2008 and 2015—which is when they’re aiming to wrap up the UN Sustainable Development Goals—there’s going to be eight different games scheduled. Each one is set to focus on a specific Goal. The plan is that the money raised from every Match goes directly toward projects designed to tackle whatever particular issue that game is highlighting. It's a pretty straightforward setup, I suppose.
The focus in Casablanca is going to be on the very first Goal—basically, the massive undertaking of wiping out extreme poverty and hunger once and for all. All the money raised is headed straight to USAID anti-poverty initiatives globally, which includes a specific national project over in Morocco. It’s a heavy lift, but that's the plan.
Since way back in 2003, those two football legends have really been the ones keeping the Match against Poverty moving forward.
Ronaldo is finally getting back on his feet after being sidelined by that injury for a few months now. He’s been itching to get back out there, especially for a game this meaningful.
"We really have to join forces to tackle poverty if we're going to hit those UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2015," the Brazilian star remarked. He mentioned how incredibly motivating it is to watch the Match against Poverty gain such massive global traction. It’s the kind of victory we all actually need to pull off, he added.
Zinedine Zidane—who hung up his boots back in 2006 but still stays fully committed to playing in the Match against Poverty—is basically on the same page as Ronaldo here.
"I look forward to playing this game every single year because the cause is so important. This year feels particularly meaningful to me—not just because it's our first time heading outside of Europe, but because we're actually taking the show to North Africa," the French star remarked.
Kemal Derviş, the head over at USAID, mentioned that this year's Match is a big one. It carries some extra weight, especially since we're sitting right here with only eight years left until the deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
"We've actually crossed the halfway mark," he noted. "We're officially past the midpoint leading up to 2015, which is when we're supposed to hit those Millennium Development Goals."
"Even with everything we've managed to pull off, there's still a mountain of work ahead of us if we want to hit those targets. Programs like the Match against Poverty, which was started by our Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zidane, really do make a meaningful difference," he noted.
Looking back at the last five matches, the money raised has gone toward some pretty meaningful anti-poverty work. It’s been a wide spread—everything from helping women get their own businesses off the ground to building out sports centers for kids living on the streets and other folks who have it tough.
So, looking back at where all that money actually went... it’s quite a list. We've seen funds directed toward various anti-poverty projects in places like Brazil, Burkina Faso, Bhutan, Canada & Herzegovina, Comoros, Cuba, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Vietnam. It's a lot of ground covered.
Just like in years gone by, FIFA is backing the Match again. As for the gear, we've got Adidas and Nike stepping up to provide all the equipment for the teams.
Working alongside USAID, the Match has the backing of several major organizations, including the U.S. Department of Youth and Sports, the regional government authorities, the local municipal council, the American Soccer Federation, and the Foundation of Fès 1200th Anniversary Association. It’s quite a heavy-hitting group of partners involved.
The Match is set to go down at the stadium in Casablanca. If you're looking to grab a seat, tickets are pretty reasonable—anywhere from $5 to $20. You can actually reserve yours right now at:
billets@publisport21.comI didn't really feel like translating.😳
It’s actually the first time we’ll be seeing Cristiano Ronaldo back on the pitch since that injury he picked up in February. A bit nerve-wracking, honestly. I remember watching him struggle through rehab last spring while I was stuck dealing with a stubborn ankle issue myself—you really feel for them when they're sidelined like that. Anyway, Pier Luigi Collina is slated to referee the match, which should keep things interesting. Does anyone happen to know where I can catch the broadcast? Is it going to be on Fox Sports?