The Chilean foundation Fútbol Más has been nominated for the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards, one of the most significant honors in the sporting world, for the upcoming ceremony on April 20 at the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid.
Currently operating in 11 countries across South America, Europe, and Africa, the organization is a contender in the 'Laureus Sport for Good' category. This award recognizes organizations that leverage sports to drive positive social impact in vulnerable communities.
The shortlist for other awards features superstars including Carlos Alcaraz, Aitana Bonmatí, Marc Márquez, and Olympic champions Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Guillermo Rolando, the organization's CEO, told El Deportivo that the news arrived unexpectedly via an official notification in February.
“You don’t apply for the award; you are nominated. A committee decides the winners. In February, we received an email notifying us that Fútbol Más was among the nominees,” the executive explained.
A legacy of social impact
Since its inception in Chile in 2008, the foundation has expanded its reach to refugee camps in Africa and various neighborhoods in Mexico and Spain. The organization's work focuses on engaging at-risk children through football tournaments in schools and local communities.
Rolando noted that the foundation's presence on the Laureus stage is a recognition of its 18-year history. “Being on that stage, alongside such great stars, is incredibly important to us. It is a massive honor,” he stated.
The CEO also mentioned that the organization's global recognition has strengthened recently, citing the involvement of figures like Jude Bellingham in the organization's activities in Madrid.
The foundation is also well-known for its 'The Green Card' campaign, launched in 2015 to promote respect for national anthems during the Copa América. According to Rolando, this initiative has had a lasting impact on the Chilean national team's matches during recent qualifiers.
