Every four years The Ball starts in Battersea Park in London, where the first ever official football match with modern rules took place. The Ball’s destination is the country that hosts the current FIFA World Cup.
“One Ball, One World” is our motto. It emphasizes the unique power of a ball, which, spherical like the earth, brings people together and inspires them. A common spoken language itself doesn’t matter because with a ball at your feet language is not necessary for interaction. We truly believe that football is a universal language.
During our journeys through more than 50 countries all over the world – visiting famous footballers and their clubs, political and social leaders, schools, foundations and NGOs – the idea of “One Ball, One World” is translated into the languages people use in the places we visit. Everybody regardless of race, gender, class, sexual orientation of intellectually capacity can participate in our activities and sign their name on The Ball.
In the end, the “Spirit of The Ball” – a fair and respectful way of dealing with our fellow human beings and an understanding of the diverse cultures of this world – is passed on to everyone who comes across The Ball. We then integrate experiences from The Ball’s journeys into our educational projects and TOTs for children, youths and adults alike.
More about The Ball’s journeys
Travel diaries from The Ball’s journeys
Collaboration with project partners ensures that The Ball reaches sustainable goals outside the borders of Germany. Those who understand and concur with the values of The Ball, after heading it, can join thousands of others and sign their names on it.
A big THANK YOU to all of our partners who supported The Ball in 2018:
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About Us
Spirit of Football e.V. is committed to openness and against exclusion of any kind. The core values of our non-formal educational work are based on the trips by “The Ball” to the FIFA World Cup. Since 2002, The Ball has reached over 40,000 people through the universal language of football and its intercultural power. These experiences inform the school curriculums and extracurricular educational offers that we have been implementing since 2010.
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Latest News
Benni Grünewald wrote a new post on the site Spirit of Football e.V. 1 week, 5 days ago
Dresden calling
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Hanna Görgen wrote a new post on the site Spirit of Football e.V. 2 months ago
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Hanna Görgen wrote a new post on the site Spirit of Football e.V. 2 months, 1 week ago
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Hanna Görgen wrote a new post on the site Spirit of Football e.V. 2 months, 2 weeks ago
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Sven Söderberg wrote a new post on the site Spirit of Football e.V. 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Spirit of Newsletter 02/2023
Hanna Görgen wrote a new post on the site Spirit of Football e.V. 2 months, 3 weeks ago
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