Mile­stones 2020

FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) joined forces on a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, calling on people around the globe to follow
five key steps to limit the spread of the disease. Thirty-eight players were involved in the campaign, which was produced in 16 languages.

The FIFA-Confederations Working Group, established to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, made recommendations on the men’s and women’s international calendars, FIFA competitions, regulatory matters and the creation of a FIFA COVID-19 Relief Fund.

FIFA teamed up with both the United Nations (UN) and WHO for the #BeActive campaign to
encourage people to be #HealthyAtHome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Club rivals
featured in a promotional video for the campaign.

After spikes in reports of domestic violence with stay-at-home measures to prevent the
spread of COVID-19, FIFA, the European Commission, and WHO shared the #SafeHome
initiative to support women and children at greater risk of experiencing abuse
at home.

The FIFA Council unanimously agreed to make a total of USD 1.5 billion available to the
football community to combat the financial impact of the global health crisis on the sport. The three-stage plan was designed by the FIFA administration in close consultation with the confederations.

Australia and New Zealand were selected as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 co-hosts after a vote by the FIFA Council. It will be the first edition to feature 32 teams as the tournament expands its global reach, as well as the first to be hosted across two confederations (AFC and OFC).

Over a four-week period, 29 different virtual meetings were held with the presidents of FIFA’s member associations, replacing the annual FIFA Executive Football Summits. The sessions included over 97% of the 211 members and were primarily focused on the implementation of the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan.

The 70th FIFA Congress, originally scheduled for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was held
virtually for the first time. FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent out a message of encouragement to all 211 FIFA member associations during a meeting convened by videoconference.

FIFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, strengthening their joint cooperation to address
threats posed by crime to sport.

Published as part of a drive to enhance the professionalisation of the women’s game, the
Women’s Football Administrator Handbook is a guide to strategies, practices and procedures that can reinforce the objectives of growing women’s football and fostering gender equality.

FIFA’s Return to Football – International Match Protocol was approved by the Bureau of
the FIFA Council, providing safeguards for the health and safety of players and delegates while facilitating a return to play amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former US Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch was among a stellar line-up of keynote
speakers at the third staging of the FIFA Compliance Summit. Almost 400 delegates participated in the week-long summit, which also saw the publication of the first FIFA Compliance Handbook.

A “light” version of video assistant referee (VAR) systems – designed to make the technology more accessible and affordable to a wider cross-section of the football family – was presented to The IFAB.