The Global Goals World Cup history
EIR is the Danish nonprofit organisation behind the GGWCUP, the GGWCUP School, The Clubhouse, EIR Coach Program and the revolutionary football, incl. the official #SDGball.
From 2004 until 2015 we were hosting all-women football tournaments with the core purpose of pushing the agenda of gender equality. We have played at Roskilde Music Festival and in front of the Danish Parliament to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of women’s right to vote. Since 2010 we have been organizing weekly football training in Red Cross refugees camps in Denmark. The league ‘Asylum United’ is run day-to-day by female players and coaches. In 2008 we launched the first football scientifically adjusted to fit female players – of course suitable for any player.
To fund our mission we have produced revolutionary footballs since 2008 all supporting women playing football. Learn more about the unique ball here.
Peace Day September 21, 2020
We're so honoured to be teaming up with Peace One Day for #PeaceDay on September 21 - The UN International Day of Peace - and uniting with millions around the world for a day filled with hope, reflection and connection.
On the day we had to activities:
Play a football match for peace and join One Day One Goal
HRH Princess Lara Faisal, Founder of Rise for Good and our host partner of the GGWCUP Amman joined the ‘Heroines of Peace’ Panel with speakers including inspiring women on the frontlines of action: Valerie Keller, Angela Cretu, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, HRH Princess Lara Faisal, Ghida Anani.
The GGWCUP Clubhouse, April 2020
We opened a virtual Clubhouse April 2020 due to the global situation.
All talks and trainings was live on our Facebook page and created by spectacular women from within our community. They all offered their time because they believe in the power of togetherness that has powered the GGWCUP movement.
We hope to add new activities to the Clubhouse in 2021.
GGWCUP East Africa 2020
34 teams played for the Global Goals on International Women’s Day (March 8) at the KCCA StarTimes Stadium Lugogo, Kampala, Uganda.
Overall GGWCUP Champion: Team Hearts Vision (SDG 4)
Runners-up: Team Abigail’s Grandmaz (SDG 8)
Action Champion: Team FUFA Queens (SDG 5)
Style Champion: Team SUYAWI (SDG 1)
Crowd Champion: Team Waving Flags (SDG 5)
Football Champion: Team KCCA FC (SDG 1)
GGWCUP Talk & partner announcement at Davos 2020
Davos & SDG Media Zone, January 23rd.
Announcement: Novo Nordisk Foundation supporting all-women teams participating in the first Global Goals World Cup in the Arab world.
See the announcement here, UN SDG Media Zone, UN TV.
GGWCUP FINALS NYC 2019
For the 4th time we played in New York City during the UN General Assembly Week.
This year we are thrilled to present a legendary lineup from artists, royals, disruptors, change makers and innovators including Saudi Arabia Ambassador to USA, Reema, with referees, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador and Game of Thrones Emmy-nominated actor.
The GGWCUP held 48 storeys up into the New York skyline at the SAP building Hudson Yards.
Running alongside the tournament was a spectacular line-up of high-level speakers including CEO of Women Deliver, Katja Iversen, CEO of Burning Man, Marian Goodell, founder of Female Quotient, Shelley Zalis, and many others.
Competing teams came from New York, Greece, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, India and Morocco will play to be the best team for the world and lift the one-of-a-kind trophy designed by artist Olafur Eliasson.
Overall Champion: Yellow Ladies from the Czech Post playing for Good Health & Well-being, Global Goal 3
Action Champion: Forca Goa from India. Playing for Good Health & Well-being, Gender Equality, Responsible Production & Consumption, Global Goals 3 + 5 + 12
Style Champions: Goleadoras from NYC playing for Gender Equality, Global Goal 5
Runner up: Greens from Saudi Arabia playing for Life On Land, Global Goal 15
See the recap created by Stephen O'Regan, The Beautiful Game NYC.
Global Goals Week 2019
1 Week, 5 Summits, 17 Goals. Again this year we are proud to be part of the biggest week of the year: The Global Goals Week in NYC to build momentum to achieve the SDGs.
GGWCUP Hack @ Global Goals House by SAP Next-Gen, Cannes Lions 2019
June 20 2019– GGWCup Hack at the Goals House, Cannes Lions w/ SAP Next-Gen
“My hope for sports to be for EVERYONE. Also that clubs, schools, ans people dare to be responsible for the world.” – Majken Gilmartin.
Folkemødet 2019
June 13-16 2019 - EU x GGWCup Hack – The People's Political Festival (Folkemødet) Bornholm, Denmark
WE WON. To all the women of the world who unite to play in a #GGWCup. This award is for you.
It is a brand new honorary award. Verdensmålsprisen (The Global Goals Award) is awarded for the first time ever at the The People's Political Festival in June 2019, Bornholm Denmark.
GGWCUP Hack
June 3-6 0219– GGWCUP Hack, Women Deliver - Vancouver, Canada
“GGWCUP is a fantastic way to give expression to something that is the great potential of sport, to give back to society.”
SDG Award Gala & Award
The Czech Republic and the Association of Social Responsibility honored us with a special SDG Award for our work for the Global Goals.
The trophy is design by Linda Matějovská @qdesigners.co (IG) and made out of recycled glass. The ball is one of the GGWCup Prague game balls.
GGWCUP Prague 2019
On May 29th 2019 in Prague the world got new Global Goals Champions. 18 teams participated and the winners was:
Overall Champion Yellow Ladies from Ceska Posta
Best Advocacy Team Kopacky from Plzensky Prazdroj
Best Style Team PoweRED from Vodafone
Best Engagement Team Better World Starts at Home from IKEA
Most Sustainable Outfit Team The Same
A huge thank you to our local organizer the Association of Social Responsibility for bringing Global Goals World Cup to Prague.
GGWCUP Hack @ SXSW 2019
March 8-11 2019 – GGWCup Hack Citizens with Sap Next-Gen @ SXSW - Austin TX, USA
GGWCUP Europe 2019
May 14 2019 – GGWCUP Europe / Copenhagen Denmark
We transformed the urban arena by the BLOX building into a large football arena - the Her Story Arena - including playful space spaces for audience, music, food and talks. Our host DAC and BLOX has since 2008 been supporting the UN network Global Compact and is the meeting place for architecture, design and urban culture in Denmark.
The GGWCUP Europe was supported by the European Commission & the European Union.
GGWCUP Bangkok 2019
February 9 + 10 2019 – GGWCup Bangkok NIST International School.
For the second time NIST and Chelsea Foundation hosted a two-day football festival with games, conversation and community action: On Saturday sixteen teams of women participated in the GGWCup Bangkok, and on Sunday boys and girls teams participated in the under-11 #GGWCup Bangkok.
PlayOnside won, followed by Pink Falcons. PlayOnside are from North Thailand, close to Burma, where the team, a group of teachers, promote gender equality to the Burmese community.
GGWCUP Mumbai 2019
February 2 2019 – GGWCUP Mumbai Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School
Twenty Four all-women teams competed in the event which took place for the first time in India. The champions, Forca Goa, will represent India at the GGWCUP Finals in New York during the UNGA week September 2019.
Before the action began on the pitch, each team presented their contribution towards attaining specific sustainable goals. OSCAR Foundation from Mumbai and Forca Goa from Goa were the two finalists and played a brilliant match, but ultimately Foca Goa took the trophy home.
GGWCUP Mumbai 2019
February 2 2019 – GGWCup Mumbai Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School
Twenty Four all-women teams competed in the event which took place for the first time in India. The champions, Forca Goa, will represent India at the GGWCup Finals in New York during the UNGA week September 2019. Before the action began on the pitch, each team presented their contribution towards attaining specific sustainable goals. OSCAR Foundation from Mumbai and Forca Goa from Goa were the two finalists and played a brilliant match, but ultimately Foca Goa took the trophy home.
2019 World Economic Forum and Goals House in Davos
Warm greeting from Davos.
Let’s go play for the world. We Are Ready!
GGWCUP Johannesburg 2018
We got four new Global Goals Champions teams in Johannesburg. We made it through to the semifinals playing outside. Then we got hit by massive thunderstorms. We could not continue, so we jumped into safety in the big tents set up for shade and decided the last 4 teams would be combined winners because that was the best symbol of the day, a beautiful #togetherness day. This means Global Goals World Cup Johannesburg has 4 winners that will all be going to the Global Citizen Festival December 2nd. Congratulations to Madiba Youth org., Kromdraai Girls, Team Dedela and The Soccer Divas Club, Mombasa. You are amazing superstars.
We also honored 2 other teams for their endless support and love for the game. Look out for these young women: Skateistan SA and Nirvana - amazing rolemodels and new leaders. #BeTheGeneration Massive thank you to all partners, volunteers and players.
2018 Global Goals League Johannesburg
On 1 December 2018, SDG Advocates Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway and Ambassador Dho Young-shim participated in the launch of the first women’s football league in the township of Alexandra in Johannesburg, South Africa, in partnership with the Global Goals World Cup.
The launch event for this league was a celebration featuring 400 children from Alexandra township who are part of the South African Field Band Foundation.
The children in the field band performed their carefully practiced songs for the Prime Minister, and learned about the SDGs in a playful way through teams organized by SDG (such as the Goal 5 – Gender Equality team). Ambassador Dho generously provided 400 SDG footballs for the games, and Prime Minister Solberg acted as commentator.
The event taught the children and the Alexandra community about the Goals in a positive and engaging way, while also mobilizing them for meaningful future action.
The day after this event, EIR hosted the first GGWCUP in Johannesburg.
Thank you Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association, Field Band Foundation (hosting) PM of Norway Erna Solberg, Worlds Largest Lesson, Lindiwe Hani, SAP Next-Gen, Global Citizen, and the Norwegian and Danish Embassies in South Africa.
2018 GGWCUP Dominica
It was a close match but Hurricane Fighters playing for Goal 13: Climate Action won the final against the Sun Beams playing for Goal 4 Quality Education after a nerve-racking penalty shoot-out.
Thank you to all the teams, players, volunteers, sponsors, partners and all you who game out and cheered! Truly a memorable day in the Botanical Garden.
2018 GGWCUP Finals NYC
The two finalist teams - @goleadoras & @sandiegosoccerwomen - were both truly deserving, but Goleadoras took the trophy. They entered the tournament ranked number one on engaging the crowd, top five on action and on the day, their creative style and football skills took them all the way. They even brought their own backup dancers!!
We wish these inspiring young women all the best in their future endeavours to realise their full potential as community leaders, and gender equality advocates.
Congratulations to all the fantastic teams. And a huge thank you to all our beautiful partners and volunteers who made this day spectacular.
2018 The #SDGBall gets its own exhibition at the Nobel peace Centre in Oslo, Norway
Norwegian Prime Minister and SDG Ambassador Erna Solberg launches the #TakeTheBall campaign and brings the SDG ball to her official meetings.
2018 NEW YORK
Global Goals World Cup is shortlisted among 400 entries for Global Impact of the Year Award by Beyond Sport.
2018 TEDx talk in Bergen, Norway
Majken and Rikke did the first TEDx talk in Bergen.
"If Women had Been the Social Architects of Football"
COPENHAGEN 2018
The first Impact Report was published.
Showing that teams that play in a GGWCUP feel more competent and confident to become activists for the Goals, and women who would not otherwise play sport are inspired to participate.
Congratulations from Messi
In April 2018 the first Global Goals League was launched in partnership with the Royal Danish Embassy, Boca Juniors, the city of Buenos Aires and Arla Food Ingredients.
The girls playing in the league are invited to present their experiences at the Youth Olympics later in the year.
Each team plays and take action for their chosen Global Goal every week.
Thank you Messi for sharing the League video with your Facebook followers.
GGWCUP Dubai 2018
Sustainable Mindz moved mountains and put on a spectacular Global Goals World Cup for the UAE.
Hostet at the Sustainable City in Dubai 23 passionate women's teams played for the world they want.
MOU with Sustainable Mindz to cover MENA
2017 Impact Games
The Global Goals stand still without action. Global Goals Impact Games are about togetherness and understanding the UN 17 Global Goals by playing ball.
Soccer is one of the world’s most powerful tools to communicate and implement change. Through soccer we can enhance curiosity, build health, develop the mind and trust amongst each other.
Global Goals Impact Games will inspire children, coaches, teachers and players to help take actions for the Global Goals locally and globally.
www.ggimpactgames.com is a platform with free games and drills to teach children and playful minds about the Global Goals. Amazing Becca Todd (2nd from right) heads the effort to develop new games and trains kids at Dana Cup. Marie Hansen builds the concept and the website.
MOU with Worlds Largest Lesson
GGWCUP Bangkok 2017
Big Mango FC won the first Asian Global Goals World Cup in Bankok, hosted by NIST International School and Chelsea FC Foundation in partnership with UNDP.
Pandora was main sponsor and the Royal Danish Embassy held a dinner for the partners. GGWCup Bangkok was scheduled for February 2019.
GGWCUP Finals New York City 2017
The second Global Goals World Cup in NYC was played at the Brooklyn Expo Center with 24 teams.
Opening speech by HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, New Sonsors GANNI, Shamballa, Joe and the Juice, Cadilac & Muuto. Partnership with Global Citizen, UN Women and Women Deliver. Annie Lennox nominates a player for the SDG 5 Dream Team.
Moving the Goalposts bring the trophy home to Kenya.
2016 Majken Gilmartin won the IOC Trophy for Women and Sport, Europe
Each year, the IOC Women and Sport Awards are given to women, men or organisations who have made remarkable contributions to the development, encouragement and reinforcement of women’s participation in sport.
Six trophies are distributed each year – one for each of the five continents and one World Trophy. To select the winners, the IOC invites each IF, NOC and Continental Association to propose one candidate to the IOC Women in Sport Commission.
World Trophy: Ethiopian sports journalist Dagim Zinabu Zinabu Tekle
Winner for Africa: Ms Felicite Rwemarika (Rwanda)
Winner for the Americas: Dr Carole Oglesby (USA)
Winner for Asia: Ms Maria Leonor Estampador (Philippines)
Winner for Europe: Ms Majken Maria Gilmartin (Denmark)
Winner for Oceania: Ms Moya Dodd (Australia)
Click HERE and more about all winners.
The SDG ball is displayed at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (2017).
GGWCUP Nairobi 2017
Moving The Goalposts took the victory in Nairobi. 2500 spectators cheered them on. They won a trip to compete in the tournament in New York later that year.
EIR partnered with the Royal Danish Embassy, Save the Children and GAIN for this event. With support from Safaricom, Flora Holland & Little Sun.
The amazing Ihan Haydar from the danish band L.I.G.A composed our anthem.
MOU with Save the Children
GGWCUP New York City 2016
The Global launch of GGWCUP was held alongside the Social Good Summit @92Y With support from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNDP and Goodwings.
We got our first ambassadors: Lene Nystrøm (Aqua), Birgitte Hjort-Sørensen (Borgen) Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Victor Ochen.
2016 First GGWCUP in Copenhagen
The first Global Goals World Cup tournament was held in Copenhagen during the Women Deliver Conference.
Artist Olafur Eliasson donated little suns as medals. Save the Children, the city of Copenhagen, the Danish FA and Danfoss were among the partners.
Team Bikespice Your Life won the grand prize of participating in the Global Launch in NYC.
2015 The #SDGBall & UNDP
In 2015 Rikke Rønholt thought that the way to put gender equality and the Global Goals on the agenda in Denmark was through a women's football tournament.
It just so happened, that Majken Gilmartin had been doing that for years.
The two women met, and the idea of the Global Goals Ball and World Cup was born.
MOU with UNDP to bring the Global Goals to life through football.
