This World Cup, we’re building the strongest line-up to defeat malaria
We've been fighting malaria for decades. Today, the possibility of ending malaria for good has never been greater.
This World Cup, we’re growing the Zero Malaria FC Dream Team – and malaria doesn’t stand a chance. Powerful players including scientists, innovators, sports legends and advocates are joining our World Cup squad – are you joining us?
Let’s get the #ZeroMalariaFC squad World-Cup-ready.
Do you know the score? Here’s how we SCORE a historic win
Knowledge is power, and you've got to know your opponent's play to beat them. To mark the World Cup, we're looking back at some of the biggest moments in football history and our progress against malaria. From underdog victories and historic moments to breakthroughs that changed the game, these stories show what's possible when determination, innovation and leadership come together.
And as the World Cup heads to the Americas, a region where football passion runs deep and malaria elimination is already becoming a reality. We're celebrating some of the moments that got us here. From the United States eliminating malaria in the 1950s to recent wins in Paraguay, El Salvador and Belize, the region has shown what's possible.
We've come a long way. Countries are leading. And the scoreboard is moving in the right direction.
how to use
This carousel series pairs iconic moments in football history with major milestones in the fight against malaria, swiping from a football achievement to a malaria success story from the same year, highlighting decades of progress. Share the carousel in order on Instagram and encourage your audience to swipe through to discover the surprising links between football history and malaria achievements. You can also use a standalone single-image version on channels where carousel posts aren't supported, or where a single graphic is better suited to your audience.
1950: Uruguay defeat Brazil at record-breaking World Cup & USA eliminates malaria: In 1950, Brazil was so certain of its victory in the World Cup that it had already written and recorded a victory samba – only to have the glory snatched by Uruguay in what would be the most attended World Cup to date. At the same time, another nail-biting final was unfolding in the Americas: the USA was bringing malaria to its knees through large-scale vector control efforts, with elimination achieved in 1951.
1971: First international Women’s football game is played & Tu Youyou discovers lifesaving malaria drug: In 1971, the Dutch team played the first international women’s football match recognized by FIFA against France – paving the way for the Women’s World Cup. It was a big year for women in football, and a big year for women in science, because at the same time in China, Tu Youyou and her team discovered artemisinin, an antimalarial treatment which would revolutionise global malaria treatment and save millions of lives.
2010: First World Cup in Africa & biggest malaria gains in decades: In 2010, South Africa hosted the first World Cup on African soil, a landmark moment for the continent and one of the most significant milestones in football history. Meanwhile, Africa was also demonstrating leadership and progress on the global stage in its malaria fight, with 11 African countries and one territory successfully cutting malaria cases by more than half.
2021: International football returns & WHO recommends world’s first malaria vaccine: It was a powerful moment for millions of people worldwide in 2021 as international football returned with the delayed UEFA 2020. But this wasn’t the only comeback story of resilience and vision that hit headlines that year. After 30 years of efforts, one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs for malaria came with the world’s first vaccine, RTS,S.