Playing (Soccer) For Change in Nicaragua

This summer, the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 26™ reached the fields of Fútbol Sin Fronteras (FSF) in Nicaragua. Participants brought the global game home through their own World Cup-inspired competition, combining the excitement of the tournament with something girls at FSF experience throughout the year: the opportunity to play, compete, connect, and belong.

Girls represented countries including Croatia, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, Japan, Canada, Belgium, and Australia. The competition culminated in dramatic finals, including a last-minute winning goal and a penalty shootout, followed by an awards ceremony celebrating the players. Families joined participants at the field to cheer them on and share in the excitement.

The World Cup offered a fun and timely way to connect girls in Granada with a global celebration of the game they love and play in their very own community. It was also one part of a much larger year of soccer at FSF. So far in 2026, 272 unique participants have taken part in soccer programming across our La Villa and Multiestadio program sites. Across 361 sessions, girls have spent more than 9,000 hours engaged directly in programming.

The latest participant feedback helps show what those hours can mean for girls at FSF. In 2025, girls across all three school-level groups reported a strong sense of belonging, with 82% to 89% saying they feel safe, accepted, valued, and part of the FSF community. When asked more broadly about their experience at FSF, including the support they receive and the relationships they build, positive responses ranged from 81% to 90%.

Among secondary school participants, 83% responded positively to measures of agency, which include feeling capable of making decisions, facing challenges, and moving toward their own goals. Academic results were especially strong for this group, with 92% responding positively to measures related to confidence, learning habits, motivation to continue studying, and reaching educational goals.

These results speak to the purpose behind the time girls spend at FSF. Soccer gives participants a place to gather, challenge themselves, and experience being part of a team. This summer, it also gave them the chance to make a piece of the world's biggest soccer tournament their own. From hundreds of regular sessions to the excitement of the World Cup in Granada, FSF continues to create opportunities for girls to play, learn, and feel that they belong.

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While much of what makes FSF special remains unchanged, recent developments in the global regulatory environment required us to thoughtfully adjust how support for the program is structured. These changes affected some of the behind-the-scenes administrative processes, but they did not alter the core of what FSF is or the impact it creates.

As we shared in our previous updates, FSF continues as a locally led initiative in Granada, supported by donors and champions around the world. The same experienced coaches, the same commitment to holistic support, and the same belief in the power of sport continue to guide the work forward. Thanks to your partnership, FSF is able to serve girls across Nicaragua with care, consistency, and a legacy of transformation that carries on.