Sunil Chhetri selected as first male participant in FIFA Player Impact Programme’s second edition
Former India men’s national team captain Sunil Chhetri has been selected for the second edition of the FIFA Player Impact Programme and is the first male participant, joining 11 cohort members who met in Boston, Massachusetts, in June for a three-day Impact Accelerator Workshop. The course aims to empower players to harness their voices, platforms and resources to drive positive social change.
The programme expanded from a female-only pilot held in 2025 to include 13 footballers from around the world. The international line-up features FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Alexia Putellas of Spain alongside Canada’s Jessie Fleming, England’s Michelle Agyemang, Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade and Brazil’s Gabi Nunes, among others. FIFA has positioned the initiative to give players skills, resources and tailored guidance to create positive social change in their communities.
The three-day Impact Accelerator Workshop in Boston provided a forum for participants to share their personal journeys, identify causes important to them and explore practical ways to translate ideas into initiatives. Sessions combined group discussions, practical exercises and expert-led presentations designed to help players develop actionable social impact plans. The Boston meeting brought together 11 of the 13 selected footballers for concentrated, in-person work on project development.
Participants identified priority themes for their projects, with education, mental health and equitable access to sport cited among the key areas being championed. Organisers described the programme as focused on enabling players to convert influence on the pitch into community initiatives off it. Chhetri’s selection was noted as bringing Indian football into the global conversation about using sport to drive social change beyond the boundaries of the game.
On his inclusion, Chhetri said: "I’m really happy that I got this opportunity. I cannot wait to put those lessons into practice. I don’t think there is a difference between a man and a woman here. We are just meeting amazing personalities, some amazing top-class players from different countries."
FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis, who met the participants during the workshop in Boston, reflected on the broader role players can play off the field. "As players and coaches, we spend our careers building a legacy through what we do on the pitch: the big save, the match-winning goal, the last-ditch tackle. But one of the questions we should all ask ourselves is: what legacy are we leaving beyond the game?" Ellis said. "Today we have a reach that extends far beyond 90 minutes. Through social media and the platforms available to us, we have an incredible opportunity not only to connect with fans, but to influence communities, create opportunities for others and drive meaningful change. That’s the kind of impact that lasts well beyond the final whistle."
The current cohort will reconvene in London and continue work through virtual sessions in December, when participants will present their respective social impact projects and share their progress.