Common Goal and Professional Footballers Australia Unite

Launch of First-Ever Player Association Partnership

Common Goal and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) have joined forces to launch a pioneering partnership that will strengthen and celebrate the Football for Good Community across Australia.

This marks the first-ever collaboration between Common Goal and a players’ association, laying the foundation for a new era of athlete-driven social impact—one that leverages the power of the game to drive change both locally and globally.

Launched today in Sydney, the partnership is designed to empower Australia’s footballers to become champions for causes they care about, while connecting their efforts to a global movement for impact.

How the Partnership Works

Through the partnership, Common Goal and the PFA will:

• Raise awareness of the Football For Good ecosystem among socially conscious players across Australia.
• Host events and fundraising initiatives that spotlight football-led impact.
• Leverage the PFA’s Footballers’ Trust to connect players with grassroots projects aligned to their values.

As part of the initiative, Australian players will be invited to join Common Goal by pledging 1% of their salary—or pledging a chosen amount—to support social impact initiatives. Contributions will benefit a network of accredited community organisations using football as a tool for change, including:

• Football United (Creating Chances)
• Australian Blind Football
• Heartbeat of Football
• John Moriarty Football
• One Ball
• PlayrProject
• Pride Cup
• Reflect Forward
• Transplant Australia FC
• Football Empowerment
• Football Futures

A Global Network with Local Impact

Common Goal member Juan Mata joined the launch to help share the message with Australia’s football community.

“Australia has a passionate football culture and an incredible opportunity to lead with purpose,” said Mata. “Through this partnership with the PFA, we want to inspire Australian players to see how they can use their platform to make a meaningful difference in their communities and beyond.”

He was joined by Alex Brosque as well as community leaders, including Anne Bunde-Birouste, Founder of Football United and a member of the Common Goal Advisory Board.

“This world-first collaboration will enable Australian players to actively support football-for-good organisations,” Bunde-Birouste said.

“Professional player engagement brings real inspiration and momentum to our work with young people and communities.”

Common Goal Co-Chair and former Matilda Moya Dodd added:

“As the world’s largest football-for-good network, Common Goal connects Australia to a broader global movement while inspiring local action. This partnership with the PFA brings purpose to the forefront of the game—where it belongs.”

A Growing Community of Australian Players

The partnership builds on the growing momentum of Australian players already aligned with Common Goal, including Caitlin Foord, Aivi Luik, Angela Beard, Winonah Heatley, Izzy Dalton, and Libby Copus-Brown.

It is also supported by the Footballers’ Trust, a PFA initiative launched in 2019 to help players give back. Since its inception, the Trust has contributed over $500,000 in donations to 24 charities and football-based social impact programs across Australia and internationally.

“Football has the power to be a genuine force for good,” said PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch. “This partnership gives our members another opportunity to be part of a global movement and to create lasting social impact off the pitch.”