Chhetri Joins FIFA’s Expanded Player Impact Programme as Its First Male Member

A new chapter for the programme

Former India captain Sunil Chhetri has been named to the second edition of FIFA’s Player Impact Programme, making him the first male footballer to take part. The initiative, which began as a women-only pilot in 2025, has now widened its scope to bring together 13 players from around the globe, all focused on using their public profiles for community benefit.

Workshop in Boston

Eleven of the selected participants, Chhetri among them, met in Boston, Massachusetts, in June for a three-day Impact Accelerator Workshop. Over the course of the sessions, players were encouraged to recount their personal journeys, pinpoint causes that matter to them, and turn those ideas into practical initiatives. The format combined group discussions, hands-on exercises and sessions led by specialists in sport for social impact.

Voices from the programme

Chhetri welcomed the opportunity and said he looked forward to applying what he had learned. “I don’t think there is a difference between a man and a woman here,” he said, pointing to the calibre of players he had met from different countries.

FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis, who spoke with participants in Boston, framed the programme around lasting influence. She asked players to consider what they would leave behind once their careers ended, noting that social media and other platforms now allow athletes to reach audiences well beyond the match itself.

Who is taking part

The current cohort includes Spain’s Alexia Putellas, a FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, along with Jessie Fleming of Canada, Michelle Agyemang of England, Rasheedat Ajibade of Nigeria and Gabi Nunes of Brazil. Causes being prioritised include education, mental health and equitable access to sport.

Background

Chhetri represented India in more than 150 internationals between 2005 and 2025. The programme is backed by FIFA and pairs each participant with individual guidance to help shape concrete projects. Last year’s cohort went on to set up foundations and football academies and to work with non-profit organisations on problems they had encountered personally.

What next

The participants are scheduled to reconvene in London in December, where they will join virtual sessions and present the social impact projects they have developed, along with updates on their progress.