As the football Club World Cup gets underway in the United States, on the other side of the globe, Japanese club Gamba Osaka has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development by becoming the first team in the country\u2019s professional league to join the United Nations\u2019 Football for the Goals initiative.<\/p>\n
The initiative provides a platform for the global football community to engage with and promote the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>\n
The UN’s Maher Nasser (left) and Shinji Ito of Gamba Osaka mark the Japanese club’s membership of the Football for the goals initiative.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Shinji Ito, an external affairs executive for the football team, Gamba Osaka, told UN News<\/em> at the United Nations Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka that supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is important to his club.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a football club we can work with supporters towards changing attitudes and behaviour on issues like the environment, climate, sustainability, health and disability, which are part of the SDGs.\u201d<\/p>\n The multicoloured SDG logo is prominently displayed at the club\u2019s stadium in Osaka, Japan\u2019s second largest city, it has featured on the team kit and players have visited local schools to explain why the SDGs are important.<\/p>\n At the stadium, efforts are made to encourage fans to separate recycling trash, a behaviour which many in Japan believe needs to be highlighted and stepped up.\u00a0 Paper cups have replaced plastic cups and the player\u2019s team shirts are made from more sustainable and environmentally-friendly materials.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are seeing increased awareness about the importance of the SDGs,\u201d said Mr Ito. \u201cWe recognize that this is a long-term commitment and that significant change takes place over 10 years or longer.\u201d<\/p>\n Gamba Osaka is now signed up to the UN\u2019s Football for the Goals initiative, making it a first for Japan\u2019s professional game.\u00a0<\/p>\n Taro Shinzato (left) visited the UN Pavilion with Satoka Shinzato.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The initiative aims to inspire and guide all those involved in the sport who see the value of sustainability, from confederations, national associations, leagues and clubs to players\u2019 associations, organized fan groups, as well as media and commercial partners.<\/p>\n It\u2019s encouraging them to build on existing sustainability approaches and to implement strategies that lead to behavioural change.<\/p>\n Launched in 2022, at a time when progress towards the SDGs was and continues to falter, there are now some 370 entities signed up.<\/p>\n \u201cThe global football industry is extremely influential and has the power to communicate with billions of people across the world,\u201d said Maher Nasser, Commissioner-General of the United Nations at Expo 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cOur members will inspire action by demonstrating how sustainable practices can be mainstreamed through any business model, including sport,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The SDGs are part of the Japanese school curriculum,\u00a0 so many young people are aware of their importance.<\/p>\n Taro Shinzato, who supports rival team Nagoya Grampus 8, visited the UN Pavilion at Expo 2025, telling us: \u201cWhen we think of the SDGs, we focus on the environment and sustainable living in Japan. We perhaps don\u2019t think enough about the SDGs in other countries, which is very important as we all share the same Earth.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\nTeam effort<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Taro](\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Collections\/Embargoed\/12-06-2025-UN-Expo-Japan-03.jpg\/image1170x530cropped.jpg\" "\\"Taro")
\n<\/div>\nKeeping an eye on the ball<\/strong><\/h2>\n