Football for Future Common Goal Champions Community Season 2 Squad Announcement!
We are excited to kick off Season 2 of the Football For Future x Common Goal Champions Community! This game-changing initiative is back, supporting footballers to lead on climate action. Today, we’re excited to announce our 28-player lineup — a squad of changemakers ready to inspire change, and leave a lasting legacy.
In collaboration with Common Goal, the Climate Champions Community aims to cultivate a network of climate-conscious players driving climate action. The program empowers players through thematic education masterclasses and networking opportunities, providing them with the tools to engage their communities in sustainable change.
The journey aims to provide a platform for climate-curious players to become informed climate leaders through workshops on climate awareness and action. After an initial crash course on football and climate change, Champions brainstorm sustainability projects and create climate action projects with the support of Football For Future and Common Goal. Monthly community check-ins support them in engaging their networks, communicating about climate change, and creating a lasting legacy, building their confidence to undertake ambitious climate initiatives.
Reflecting on Season 1
Our first-ever cohort of 9 Climate Champions made headlines, with features in The Guardian, Sky Sports, 90min, FIFPro, and The Athletic. Our Impact Report showed that every player walked away with a strong understanding of the connection between football and climate change—100% agreed that football has a responsibility to act. And they didn’t just talk the talk…
Their initiatives have been game-changing, as Sofie Junge Pedersen was named The Guardian’s Footballer of the Year after leading the largest-ever player-driven climate advocacy campaign during the Women’s World Cup—rallying 44 players to take responsibility for their flights and raising over €25,000 for global nature restoration. Jessie Fleming became the first player to use the Football For Future x Common Goal Carbon Transfer Compass to offset her carbon footprint—earning a BBC Green Sport Award nomination. Mael Corboz spearheaded projects with elevengreen and Goals For Tomorrow, raising over €16,000 for tree planting in Germany through player donations, while Lotte Wubben-Moy teamed up with Nike and Football For Future to develop the first-ever Climate Handbook for professional footballers.
Season 1 also saw us joined by a lineup of expert speakers, including renowned climate scientist Ed Hawkins and leaders in sustainable innovation from Quorn, who shared their valuable experience and insights with our Champions.
Season 1 proved that footballers have the power to make an impact. But it was just the beginning.
Season 2: Bigger and Better!
This season, we’re strengthening our lineup with a star-studded squad of 28 passionate players ready to take climate action to the next level.
We’re proud to introduce an incredible roster of new Champions:
Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City & Netherlands)
Lucy Parker (Aston Villa)
Tiffany Sornpao (Brøndby IF & Thailand)
Elena Linari (AS Roma & Italy)
Jacob Zetterström (Derby County)
Alex Chidiac (Melbourne & Australia)
Duncan Watmore (Millwall FC)
Francesca Durante (Fiorentina & Italy)
Tom Davies (Sheffield United)
Lucia Di Guglielmo (AS Roma)
Merrick Will (Wolves)
David Wheeler (Wanderers FC)
Aivi Luik (BK Häcken & Australia)
Ben Winterbottom (Brentford FC)
Adrian Mariappa (Wealdstone FC & Jamaica)
Georgia Robert (Rugby Borough)
Elena Pisani (Sampdoria)
Mark McKenzie (Toulouse)
Jasmyne Spencer (Vancouver Rise)
Who join our returning Champions:
Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns & Canada)
Alexei Rojas (Arsenal & Colombia)
Jane Ross (Rangers & Scotland)
Tessel Middag (Rangers & Netherlands)
Elin Landstrom (Roma)
Daphne Corboz (Paris FC)
Sofie Junge Pedersen (Inter Milan & Denmark)
Maël Corboz (Arminia Bielefeld)
Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal & England)
Bart Vriends (Adelaide United)
Together, this diverse and dynamic group represents a powerful force for change —spanning clubs, leagues, and continents, united by their passion for the beautiful game and our beautiful planet. With their unique perspectives and experiences, they’re set to inspire their communities and drive sustainability forward, using football as the ultimate platform for climate action.
Shifting football, and society as a whole, toward a more sustainable future requires a collaborative path, bold decision-making, and individuals willing to lead by example. This season our Climate Champions will continue to develop their knowledge, take action, and engage their networks to become the agents of change to embed sustainability within one of the world’s largest cultural forces - football.
This Community is about more than just individual impact; it’s about building a movement — one where players inspire their clubs, leagues, and fans to rethink how football can contribute to a greener future. This movement is only getting stronger.
Stay tuned for updates and highlights from the Climate Champions Community throughout the season!
If you’re curious about the incredible impact of Season 1, check out our previous Impact Report here (ADD LINK).
If you’d like to know more or understand how you can get involved, get in touch.