The London FA is delighted to welcome Spirit of Football and Cool Down, the Sport for Climate Action Network, to our city in July. 

The two organisations are jointly hosting a Kick Off match in Battersea Park on Sunday 10th July (KO at midday) and are keen for players of all ability to join in the fun.

This will mark the start of a journey in which football and climate activism come together to highlight the need for urgent climate action. Our Ball, is the beautiful game’s equivalent to the Olympic torch. Travelling from the site of the world’s first regulation game of football in Battersea Park, London to Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, the host of the inaugural game of the 2023 Women’s World Cup finals, the Ball will undertake an epic journey that supports local action, collects climate pledges and gathers signatures from across the globe. The Ball will promote fairness, gender equality, sustainability and climate action.

The Kick Off starts with three inclusive football matches from midday. They are open to all, anyone can join in. The first match will be 30-a-side using the earliest rules of the game. Players are encouraged to bring the old style shirts (similar to rugby shirts), and twirl your moustache if you are able to!

A range of live acts, from poetry reading to performances by internationally recognised musicians will follow to help spread the climate message to promote sustainable living.  It is an afternoon for everyone. Spirit of Football fuses the global force of sport, with the pressing need for climate action.

The Ball will also be travelling around London to visit various local organisations that make football tick in our city, such as Street Soccer London, Football Beyond Borders, Peckham Town FC, the Leyton Orient Trust and Equal Playing Field.

Spirit of Football’s Ambassador and Liverpool F.C. manager Jürgen Klopp had this to say: “Together we want to get this fair play ball rolling. It is a ball for us all. Be part of our team. Everyone can play. Respect your teammates, your opponents and the environment. One Ball, One World.”

The CEO of London FA, Paul Bickerton, said: “We are delighted to welcome The Ball back to London. We wish it well on its journey around London and the World, and the important message it will carry with it for more to be done to tackle the climate emergency.”

To find out more about Spirit of Football, head to https://linktr.ee/spiritoffootball.  More information on the Kick off event in Battersea can be found here.