The World Trade Organization (WTO) and FIFA have agreed to work together to examine how international trade and football can serve as catalysts for economic growth and social inclusion.
The WTO and FIFA signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday aimed at building up the participation of cotton-producing countries in the global soccer industry. It was signed by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The collaboration seeks to foster synergies in relation to the economic dimension of sport and empowerment, especially for least-developed countries (LDCs) and women. Cooperation within the context of the WTO’s cotton programme is also a central element of the agreement.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, “I'm really excited at the prospect of collaborating with FIFA to try to leverage the cotton sector in a positive way for poor developing countries such as the Cotton 4. I'm really excited that collaboration with FIFA could help us pull these countries more into the global cotton value chain.
“I'm also thrilled at the prospect of working on gender empowerment. We have a big sports economy, and to the extent that we can pull this through trade to support women, this is a positive signal,” she added.
“This important partnership can help us find ways of ensuring that football can further promote sustainable development for everyone to benefit from the global football economy,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
The MoU, which will be in place until December 2027, stipulates that FIFA and WTO will share information and expertise on the economic dimensions of soccer, as well as explore using soccer as a tool for women’s empowerment in less developed countries.
