Baltimore Hosts Football for Peace Match

Football for Peace (FfP) was the dedicated charity partner at the Charm City pre-season match between English Premier League clubs, Arsenal, and Everton. The match took place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, July 16, 2022. Both teams walked out with youth from the Maryland Youth Sports Association in support of creating future young leaders in Baltimore.

The charity is uniquely combining soccer and football to advance a new era of peace and prosperity for communities across the USA.  Maryland Sports Commission & the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland in partnership with the global charity is launching its first program in the heart of Maryland, Baltimore, to advocate and build frameworks through sports around issues on equality, water sustainability, well-being, education, and the environment.

The match forms part of Arsenal's three-match tour to the East Coast of the United States this year with the other matches taking place in Florida in July. Everton will also be stateside as part of their pre-season preparations and marks their ninth pre-season visit to the US since 2004. This match builds on the region's momentum for its World Cup bid.

Football for Peace is a global charity based in the UK, India, and Chile, supported by the United Nations, and is now launching its USA arm with NFL top cornerback Josh Norman as its founding board member. Their vision is to use football in all its forms to enable an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for young people and the planet. This match will support Baltimore Maryland in creating young leaders who will be empowered to go out into the community and do actions of good deeds to create positive changes in themselves, in their immediate communities, and in the wider society. 

The English Premier League last played in Baltimore a decade ago when Liverpool and Tottenham faced off at M&T Bank Stadium during the summer of 2012. Other past notable friendlies at the stadium included Chelsea vs. AC Milan in 2009 – in which Everton manager Frank Lampard played – and Manchester City vs. Inter Milan in 2010.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “It’s great to be here in Baltimore, meeting our many supporters and playing in this wonderful stadium. Everyone at Arsenal is proud to be joining with Everton in supporting Football for Peace USA – a fantastic cause in making a positive impact to people’s lives.”

"We were proud to show our support for Football for Peace at today's game. The organization is doing fantastic work in tackling crucial issues across the globe - focusing on the younger generation - and now they are bringing that work right here to the city of Baltimore," said Frank Lampard, manager of Everton. "The local children who walked out with the two teams today will remember this day for the rest of their lives - and they played a role in delivering a truly important message."

Former NFL Player and USA FfP Founding Partner Josh Norman said : “It’s great for Football for Peace to be charity partner of the Everton VS Arsenal match. As professional athletes, we consider football to have a unique ability to reach far beyond ethnic, religious, or social differences and we hope to make a lot of positive impact in the USA.”

Football Diplomat and co-founder of Football for Peace Kashif Siddiqi said: “We are incredibly excited to begin our Football for Peace USA journey announcing our partnership with the City of Baltimore and would like to thank both clubs, Maryland Sports Commission, Elite Promotions, and the Ravens for this platform. Together we will mobilize the football community to support our efforts in unlocking the power of football in this amazing City". 

President, Sport, and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland and Executive Director of the Maryland Sports Commission Terry Hasseltine said: “Joining forces with Football for Peace in and around the beautiful game of football is a unique opportunity for Baltimore-Maryland to engage and elevate our commitment to young leaders in a creative, resilient and sustainable legacy program that will impact generations to come.”