Let’s get the #ZeroMalariaFC squad World-Cup-ready
As some of the world is fixated on the 2026 World Cup; we, at Target Malaria, are tapping into the energy of the football season to drive momentum in the fight against one of humanity’s oldest opponents: malaria. Through Zero Malaria FC, in collaboration with Speak Up Africa and Zero Malaria Starts with Me, we’re inviting fans, communities, scientists, and leaders to join a team with one shared mission: defeating a disease that still claims the lives of thousands every year.
Knowledge is power, and just like any great team must study its rivals, we must understand malaria to defeat it. As we celebrate the world’s greatest sporting event, we’re also reflecting on the defining moments in football and in malaria control that show what’s possible when determination, strategy and innovation come together. From legendary underdog victories to scientific breakthroughs that have reshaped malaria prevention, these stories remind us that progress is never accidental. It’s earned through teamwork and relentless effort.
Members of the Malaria FC “Dream Team” include the head coach and CEO in charge of the game plan, Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles. Our co-captains of the squad are turning influence into action: football legends Luis Figo and Khalilou Fadiga. Scientists and research leaders, Dr. Corine Ngufor and Janilza Silveira Silva, are our defenders. Our midfielder and global football leader, Hicham El Amrani. Our striker, political leader and advocate, Christelle Vuanga. And of course, every team needs someone to defend the goal. Our goalkeeper is Krystal Birungi, an advocate and entomologist whose objective is to develop new tools to intercept malaria transmission.
This World Cup is held in the Americas, a region that has already demonstrated what winning against malaria looks like. The United States eliminated malaria in the mid-20th century. In fact, the famous Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was established to fight malaria. In recent years, countries like Paraguay, El Salvador and Belize have achieved malaria-free certification. These successes didn’t happen in isolation. They were built on strong national leadership, community engagement, and sustained investment in tools that work. That same mission is being expressed globally. Malaria vaccines are protecting millions of children. Seasonal chemoprevention continues to save lives during high-risk months, and next-generation mosquito nets are strengthening one of our most reliable means of defense – prevention. Scientific innovation is accelerating at a pace we’ve never seen before.
But while progress is real, the threat remains urgent. Malaria still kills over 600,000 people each year, most of them young children in Africa. According to the World Malaria Report 2025, climate change, insecticide resistance, and shifting mosquito behavior threatens to undo hard- won gains. Ending malaria will take teamwork on a global scale, but history shows us that when people come together with purpose, extraordinary things happen.
Zero Malaria FC is about harnessing the spirit of the World Cup and directing it toward a future where malaria is no longer a daily danger. This is our moment to push forward. The world is watching. Let’s make malaria the opponent we finally defeat. GOAL!
