AFC Launches Three-Year Football for Dignity Initiative Across Asia
The Asian Football Confederation has approved an ambitious three-year programme designed to harness the power of football for social good, promoting inclusion, education and peace across the region from 2027 to 2029.
The Asian Football Confederation’s Social Responsibility Committee has given its formal approval to an expansive “Football for Dignity” programme, representing a significant commitment to leveraging sport as a catalyst for positive social change across Asia.
Commencing in January 2027 and extending through December 2029, the initiative will be administered by the Dignity for Children Foundation, headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. The programme builds upon the distinguished legacy of the Dignity Cup, which since 2006 has provided opportunities for more than 11,030 players to participate in meaningful football experiences.
The comprehensive three-year framework encompasses several interconnected components. Peace education workshops will reach approximately 40 schools annually, whilst football-based training will equip participants with practical skills in conflict resolution and fair play. The centrepiece will be an annual “Peace Camp” designed to facilitate cultural exchange, supplemented by the continuation of the prestigious Dignity Cup tournament.
The initiative is projected to engage roughly 1,350 refugees and asylum seekers drawn from 22 nations each year, alongside students from local public, private, international and indigenous educational institutions. This inclusive approach underscores the programme’s commitment to breaking down barriers and fostering genuine community participation.
Committee Chairperson Zaw Zaw emphasised the significance of the inaugural AFC Dream Asia Foundation Conference 2025, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in cultivating partnerships dedicated to mobilising football for community benefit. The Committee has also welcomed fresh partnerships with Indonesia’s Yayasan ASA Asia and Malaysia’s The Lost Food Project, strengthening the ecosystem of support surrounding the initiative.
Enhanced oversight mechanisms have been introduced, including comprehensive programme audits designed to improve transparency and evaluate the real-world impact of funded projects. Members reviewed both the AFC Social Responsibility Toolkit 2026 and the expanded AFC Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy 2026, both of which were formally launched in August.
Participation in the AFC Certificate in Child Safeguarding has demonstrated substantial engagement, with 208 individuals completing the Insights course, 162 completing the Fundamentals module and 124 graduating from the Essentials level. Notably, membership in the UN Football for the Goals initiative has expanded significantly to 38 AFC Member Associations and five Regional Associations, up from 29 and four respectively at the Committee’s preceding meeting.
The AFC Dream Asia Foundation Board of Trustees has endorsed four community initiatives for ongoing support: the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association’s “Rebuild, Better, Stronger” Programme, the Myanmar Football Federation’s Mandalay Football Academy Recovery Programme, Kawasaki Frontale’s “Blue Dream” Programme and Sharjah Football Club’s “Football for Hope” Programme.
Source: WAM