Can Do Kids Worldwide · Teacher Resource · Amazing People Schools Ltd
Teaching Global Citizenship Through Football
⚽ 48 Nations · FIFA World Cup 2026 · Ages 8–14
Football Worldwide is a cross-curricular resource that helps students explore countries, cultures and people through the world's most popular sport — played in more than 200 countries by boys, girls, men and women.
The resource aligns with the 2026 FIFA World Cup — co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico — which, for the first time, features 48 national teams.
Active & movement-based learning
Students work with their hands, voices and bodies, not just their ears and eyes.
Oracy and discussion
Students converse to learn, building interpersonal confidence alongside subject knowledge.
Cooperative inquiry
Small groups investigate, debate and present, mirroring real-world teamwork.
Constructive thinking
Students form opinions, ask questions and make connections across subjects.
The educator acts as a coach and facilitator.
Section 5
These eight steps help you use Football Worldwide confidently in your classroom. The whole resource can be introduced in a single lesson, with further depth added over subsequent sessions.
Visit candokidsworldwide.com and navigate to the Football Worldwide section. The interactive world globe lets you and your students locate any of the 48 World Cup countries at a glance.
Tell students about the Band — five teenagers from five continents, guided by Dr Wizby. They collect and share football stories from schools and communities around the world. The Band play five-a-side games and sing songs about football that are popular in each country.
Mention their Can Do approach, which relates to the 24 Personal Strengths that help people succeed in life as well as sport.
Select one of the 48 participating nations. You can choose a country linked to your curriculum, your local community, or simply one that generates curiosity. Open the Country Facts section together.
For each country, students can investigate: location, capital city, languages, cultural traditions, food & music, landmarks, and how football is played and celebrated there.
Adapt the lesson sequence in Section 2 for interactive learning. Students gather facts, discuss in groups, plan a virtual visit, present their findings, and reflect in writing. The educator role is to coach, prompt and celebrate their thinking.
| Step | Activity | Time | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | 5 min | Educator introduces the chosen country and activates prior knowledge. |
| 2 | Information Gathering | 5 min | Students read Country Facts on candokidsworldwide.com and note key information. |
| 3 | Group Discussion | 15 min | Small groups discuss key facts, develop a travel plan and decide where to visit. |
| 4 | Presentations | 15 min | Groups present their travel plans and key findings; peers ask questions. |
| 5 | Writing Task | 10 min | Students write: "What I have learned about this country and its people." |
| 6 | Review | 10 min | Class reviews key learning points. Educator highlights Personal Strengths observed. |
Throughout the lesson, help students identify the strengths you see in action — curiosity when they ask good questions, teamwork when groups collaborate well, perseverance when they work through difficulty.
Thinking
Curiosity
Creativity
Problem-solving
Focus
Social
Teamwork
Communication
Kindness
Leadership
Emotional
Resilience
Confidence
Patience
Courage
Action
Responsibility
Organisation
Perseverance
Initiative
End the lesson by asking students: "Which strengths did you use today?"
The quiz template (Section 4), filled in for your chosen country, works as a team activity. The quiz reinforces facts but also builds oracy and collaborative thinking. Allow teams to look up answers they are unsure of — finding the answer is part of the learning.
| No. | Topic | Question |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Population | What is the approximate population of [Country]? |
| 2 | Capital City | What is the capital city of [Country]? |
| 3 | Currency | What currency does [Country] use? |
| 4 | FIFA Member | In which year did [Country] join FIFA? |
| 5 | Language(s) | What is the main language or languages spoken in [Country]? |
| 6 | Famous Footballer | Which famous footballer comes from [Country]? |
Add a bonus round: "Tell us one fact about this country that surprised you."
Use Section 3 to broaden the context. Students can understand how football developed — from ancient China to the 1863 FA rules. The World Cup timeline provides rich material for global awareness.
Key Dates
This builds global awareness and context.
Once students are familiar with the structure, they can lead the exploration themselves. Assign different groups different countries, then share and compare findings. This student-led inquiry mirrors the exploration spirit of the Can Do Kids Band.
This is the core of Football Worldwide.
For Educators
Football Worldwide supports teachers and students in exploring global citizenship, character education and cultural understanding through the universal language of football. It forms part of the wider Can Do Kids Worldwide platform, which reaches students in more than 27 countries.
Created by Dr Charles Margerison — psychologist, educational entrepreneur, and author of more than 50 books on learning, leadership and character development. Founder of Amazing People Schools, and formerly Professor at Cranfield University and the University of Queensland.