Ghana’s FIFA World Cup community engagement event at Bryant University has attracted significant attention following the participation of midfielder Thomas Partey in a youth football session organized under FIFA and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Be Active campaign.
The Black Stars took part in the initiative on Saturday as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which gets underway this week across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The event brought together members of Ghana’s squad and children from local football clubs, with players leading drills, signing autographs, and encouraging young participants to embrace healthy lifestyles through sport.
Partey, one of Ghana’s most experienced players, was among several squad members who interacted with the children during the session.
Images and videos from the event showed the midfielder participating in football activities and engaging with youngsters on the pitch.
The event was designed to promote FIFA and WHO’s Be Active campaign, an initiative launched during the 2022 FIFA World Cup to combat physical inactivity among young people worldwide.
The campaign encourages children and adolescents to engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
However, Partey’s involvement has sparked debate in some quarters, with questions raised about safeguarding considerations at youth-focused events involving high-profile public figures.
The discussion has gained traction following media coverage of the outreach program.
Neither FIFA nor the Ghana Football Association has indicated that any rules or safeguarding protocols were breached during the event.
The session took place in a supervised environment at Ghana’s official training base, with coaches, team officials, volunteers, security personnel, and event organizers present.
The Black Stars have continued their preparations for their opening Group L match against Panama in Toronto on June 17, with head coach Carlos Queiroz overseeing final training sessions before the team’s departure to Canada.
Despite the debate surrounding the outreach event, Ghana’s focus remains firmly on its World Cup campaign as the four-time African champions seek a strong start to the tournament.
The Be Active campaign remains a key component of FIFA’s efforts to use football as a platform to inspire healthier lifestyles among children and young people around the world.
Source: ghanasoccernet