Baltimore-Maryland 2026 World Cup Bid and global charity Football for Peace sign historic partnership to create new youth and community development programs

Baltimore-Maryland to become first City and State of Peace in North America with inaugural Peace Match

Baltimore, Maryland, USA – 9 June 2021:

Baltimore-Maryland’s 2026 World Cup Host Destination bid has today signed a historic partnership agreement with leading United Nations (U.N.) sanctioned global sports charity, Football for Peace Foundation (FFP). FFP uses football to raise awareness of pressing social and environmental issues in line with the Sustainable Development Goals set by the U.N. General Assembly.

The unique partnership between FFP, the city of Baltimore, and state of Maryland, will support the key aims of FFP including uniting communities beyond ethnic, religious or social differences and challenging divisive narratives to educate and build confidence in children and young adults. The partnership will also create new youth and community development programs across Maryland through international cultural exchange initiatives. The initiatives will use football to teach valuable social skills, peaceful conflict resolution, leadership and teamwork, while also inspiring them through mentorship.

Baltimore-Maryland’s 2026 World Cup Host City bid strives to leave long-lasting tangible impacts by boosting sport and culture development both domestically and internationally. The bid will implement programs in collaboration with FFP to:

Deliver an FFP Charity Peace Match in celebration of football’s ability to transcend borders and overcome differences

Appoint an FFP Young Peace Envoy that will support and champion Baltimore’s efforts to gain City for Peace status

Host an FFP symposium to openly share models of learning with colleagues across North America

Launch an FFP Young Leaders program to build and implement local community ties throughout Maryland

The new partnership builds on the bid’s commitment to creating football legacies following the launch of its landmark ‘International Football Development 2026’ (IFD26) initiative which offers regions around the world support where sports and football development resources may be limited.

Maryland Lt. Governor and Baltimore-Maryland 2026 co-chair, Boyd K. Rutherford, said:

"Sports, and particularly football, not only have tremendous power to create positive connections between individuals and communities, but also teach values that will make a better world for us all. Partnering with Football for Peace will facilitate positive change in the lives of thousands of young people in Maryland and provide an opportunity for transformative changes in our region."

Terrance Hasseltine, President of Baltimore-Maryland 2026 and Executive Director of Maryland Sports Commission, said:

"Our entire bid to host 2026 World Cup matches in Baltimore-Maryland is centered around leaving long term, tangible impacts transforming the social, cultural and economic landscapes of our proud city and state.

"Baltimore-Maryland is already home to one of the most diverse communities across North America and our new partnership with Football for Peace will use football as a platform to offer young adults and children from all backgrounds new opportunities to develop important life skills. Football for Peace has an unrivalled history of using the power of football as a force for good and I’m thrilled to work alongside and support them."

Co-Founder of Football for Peace and former international player Kashif Siddiqi, said:

"We’re very excited to be spreading our mission of using football as a force for good to North America for the first time through our partnership with Baltimore-Maryland 2026. FFP’s community-based football programs create positive social, cultural, and environmental impacts and align closely with Baltimore-Maryland's central commitment to developing transformative legacies for local communities.

"Football is a universal language that transcends borders and unites communities, and we can’t wait to bring our partnership to life in Baltimore-Maryland."

Olubunmi Jinadu, Senior Advisor to and Member of the Baltimore-Maryland 2026 World Cup Host Committee, said:

"Our partnership with FFP builds on the important work we’re doing with our IFD26 initiative and supports our bid’s vision of developing football both domestically and across the world. We’re using football to make a real, positive difference in our communities and we’re looking forward to working alongside FFP to take this to the next level."

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Notes to editors:

Baltimore-Maryland and Football For Peace Foundation Images:

https://we.tl/t-E6c5naUMZQ

About Baltimore-Maryland 2026 World Cup Host Destination Delegation:

Our mission is to secure the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ matches for M&T Bank Stadium, Team Base Camp locations in Maryland, and for Baltimore to serve as the host site for FIFA Team Workshops. We intend to leverage World Cup activities to enhance the communities of Baltimore-Maryland for the benefit of residents and visitors to our destination. We will host events that are sustainable, promote human rights, and provide a catalyst for positive change in our city through sport. We intend to build the most scenic, welcoming, and inclusive FanFest in World Cup History.

Our vision is to showcase the City of Baltimore and State of Maryland; to represent the progress of uniting our nation’s past with the global environment of the present and future. Our destination’s diverse cultural history has made us a global city for centuries, uniting people of ethnic backgrounds from around the world. Baltimore-Maryland will continue to lead the effort to welcome the world to America. We will lead the effort to unite citizens, cultures, commerce, medicine, education, environment, religion and sport to create a better future for our community, the world and its people.

The Baltimore-Maryland 2026 World Cup Host Destination Delegation is an affiliate of the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (The Sport Corp.).

Social Media:

Follow Baltimore-Maryland 2026’s bid online and on social media:

Website: https://baltimoremd2026.us/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BaltimoreMD2026

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BaltimoreMD2026/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreMD2026

For further information:

Sujit Jasani

Vero Communications

Email: sjasani@verocom.co.uk

Mobile: +44 7940 375282

Graham Whaples