The power of football to foster meaningful change in society was brought to the fore at the inaugural Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Dream Asia Foundation Conference 2025 on Wednesday in Riyadh.
Organised in close collaboration with the United Nations’ (UN) Football for the Goals (FFTG) initiative, this milestone edition brought together an exceptional array of voices from across the Continent and beyond in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Hosted by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, the Conference focused on the role of the Asian football community as a catalyst for sustainable development and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also highlighted critical themes of child protection, youth empowerment, gender equality and social inclusion.
In his opening address, AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, who launched the AFC Dream Asia Foundation in March 2017, reflected on the far-reaching impact of the social responsibility programmes that have been established across the Confederation’s Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs).
“The AFC’s mission has underlined social responsibility as a key focus area and at the heart of this ambition is the desire to use the power of football to strengthen communities across the Continent,” said Shaikh Salman.
“I am truly proud of the progress we have made in the last eight years. Asian football has touched so many lives across nearly all our members, and our success is only possible because you – our MAs, RAs and valued partners – share our belief in the power of football.
“Today, we have the privilege of hearing from those who, together with the AFC, have strengthened the foundations to carry out this work in an efficient and effective way. And with everyone’s continued support, we will deliver stronger programmes that will leave a profound legacy for our future generations.”
The day-long Conference programme, attended by 146 participants, kicked off with a comprehensive overview of the AFC Dream Asia Foundation by Vahid Kardany, AFC Deputy General Secretary – Member Associations, who also serves as the Secretary to the AFC Dream Asia Foundation, followed by a presentation on Protecting Children’s Rights, delivered by Nicoletta Flutti (Social and Environmental Sustainability Expert, UEFA).
The third presentation, The Powerful Role of Football to Advocate for the SDGs, which was moderated by Mike Pfister (Head of Foundation, European Football Clubs), featured Robert Skinner (Acting Director and Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications, United Nations) alongside former French international and Manchester United player Mikael Silvestre, while the From Pitch to Progress – Football’s Impact on the SDGs presentation was helmed by Lee Hawkins (Founder, ASA Foundation).
Rounding off the series of presentations were Football as a Catalyst for Humanitarian Action, with moderator Mike Pfister, along with Stephen Reynard (Global Lead Sport Programmes, UNHCR) and Nick Gates (Founder and Global Strategist, Coaches Across Continents), as well as The Sustainability XI: Key Trends Shaping Asian Football by Darlene Harrison (Consultant, AFC).
Amid the engaging presentations, Conference delegates also took the opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas during two panel discussions. The first, Child Safeguarding and Youth Empowerment, was moderated by Morgan Lander (Consultant, AFC) and featured Marie-Laure Lemineur (Head of Safeguarding and Child Protection, FIFA), Sarah Mukuna (Director, Member Associations, CAF), Nguyen Hoang Phuong (Director, Football for All in Vietnam) and Irene Rozario (Safeguarding Lead, AFC).
The second discussed Football for Everyone: Creating Pathways for All and comprised moderator Todd Jacobson (CEO, Taj Global, Adjunct Professor, Columbia University) alongside a line-up of Sam Turner (Trustee, Para Football), Lee Hawkins and Vicheka Chourp (Indochina Starfish Foundation).
Hailing the impact of the landmark conference, Rouzbeh Khajeh Eian, Head of Safeguarding from the Central Asian Football Association, said: “It has been a very impactful conference and one where participants can gain and share knowledge, especially since safeguarding and social responsibility are extremely necessary for everyone involved in football, whether they are part of the industry or playing the game.
“We need conferences of this kind to increase our awareness and experience. The speakers here have shown us clear perspectives and pathways to what we want to achieve in the future.”
Echoing the sentiment, Fatimatuz Esha, Head of Safeguarding & Social Responsibility at the South Asian Football Federation, said: “This conference is a great opportunity for Member and Regional Associations to acquire the confidence to move forward and be inspired. I’m impressed that there are speakers from various organisations here to provide different viewpoints, and I thank the AFC Asia Dream Foundation for having a mission and acting on it.”
In his closing remarks, AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John acknowledged the tireless efforts of the AFC’s members and expressed his confidence towards building on the forward momentum through the Conference.
“We explored critical topics, shared experiences, and built relationships that will, without a doubt, play a key role in moving us forward towards our collective goals,” he said. “Our task now is to translate these discussions into action and to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.
“As has been so clearly demonstrated, the power of football to unite people from all walks of life, regardless of ethnic, cultural or economic differences, is something we must continue to harness as we address the challenges ahead.”
