— On the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, the United Nations Headquarters hosted “One World, One Game, One Goal: Football as a Catalyst for Youth Mental Health and Well-Being,” a flagship initiative led by the United Nations Youth Office. Bringing together representatives from the UN system, Member States, international organizations, athletes, youth leaders, and civil society, the event highlighted the growing global commitment to promoting youth mental health through the universal language of sport.
As part of the initiative, a Global Youth Art Exhibition transformed the UN Headquarters into a vibrant platform where young artists explored the relationship between sports, mental well-being, belonging, and hope through visual storytelling. Organized in collaboration with international partners including New Tone Consulting, the exhibition added a creative and human-centered dimension to the global dialogue on youth development.
The initiative attracted an impressive lineup of international leaders and advocates. Distinguished participants included Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications at United Nations; Diene Keita, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund; Mr. Pedro Trengrouse, President of the FIFA Master Alumni; Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA; Felipe Paullier, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs as well as video messages from Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and Lionel Messi, Football player from Argentina.
Sports legends including Daniel Amokachi, Gilberto Silva, Maca Sanchez, and Mauro Silva joined youth advocates and international guests in emphasizing the transformative role of football—not only as a game, but as a force for inclusion, resilience, and mental well-being.
At the heart of the exhibition were artworks created by young artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. Featured works included “I’m Fine” by Fiona Du, “After the Final Whistle” by Luran Yin, “United by the Ball” by Moran Zeng, “The Bamboo Derby” by Xingwen Mao, and “A Globe, A Heart, A Football Dream” by Yi Shi. Together, the collection reflected how football can inspire healing, connection, and hope while giving voice to young people’s lived experiences.
The exhibition was supported by an international jury composed of artists, cultural leaders, and scholars. Among them was Yifei Lu, an acclaimed calligrapher, cultural scholar, and recipient of UNESCO’s “Star of Excellence” Award, whose participation underscored the exhibition’s commitment to artistic excellence and cross-cultural dialogue.
More than an accompanying exhibition, the project demonstrated how art can strengthen global conversations around youth mental health by creating opportunities for young people to contribute their own perspectives. Delegates from governments, UN agencies, and international organizations engaged directly with the artists and their works, encouraging meaningful exchanges across cultures and generations.
By integrating youth creativity into a high-level UN initiative, the exhibition reflected an emerging approach to global governance—one that recognizes young people not only as beneficiaries of policy, but also as creators, storytellers, and partners in shaping a more inclusive future.
Contact Info:
Name: Jian Li
Email: Send Email
Organization: New Tone Consulting
Website: https://www.newtoneglobal.com/
Release ID: 89198757
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