FIFA Foundation and Twinning Project Launch Global Rehabilitation Program

The FIFA Foundation and the Twinning Project have announced a debuting innovative prisoner rehabilitation program in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Singapore, and Uruguay.

The initiative, which pairs professional football clubs with nearby correctional facilities, aims to reduce reoffending rates by providing inmates with structured coaching, education, and pathways to employment upon release.

Praising the initiative’s scale, FIFA foundation executive chairman, Mauricio Macri, stating: “We are proud to support the Twinning Project. It is a transformative platform – a bridge to rebuilding lives. Football is a global game with a global reach. It’s important to expand this program.”

The foundation’s funding follows a successful pilot in the UK, where over half of all prisons have already benefitted from pairings with professional clubs.

Emphasising the importance of the FIFA partnership in reaching new geographies, Global CEO of the Twinning Project, Hilton Freund MBE, said: “Football is the global game, and its unique power to connect people, inspire hope and change lives transcends borders.” 

He noted that research consistently shows that access to structured education and employment pathways, significantly lowers reoffending rates and contributes to safer societies around the world.

In Australia, Melbourne City FC has been confirmed as the first club to officially deliver the program under the new global rollout. Through its “City in the Community” (CitC) arm, the club will lead three-month intensive blocks focused on building discipline, teamwork, and conflict resolution.

The project leverages role models from Melbourne City’s A-League Men’s, Women’s, and Powerchair teams to assist inmates with physical and mental health, while also offering accredited qualifications designed to enhance post-release prospects.

The 2026 expansion also includes Bahia (Brazil), Auckland FC (New Zealand), Young Lions (Singapore), and Montevideo City Torque (Uruguay). By integrating elite sporting organisations into the criminal justice sector, the Twinning Project is establishing a recognisable global standard for social impact, ensuring that the honour of the “beautiful game” is used to drive positive, long-term change for the most marginalised members of society.

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