Santiago, Chile, October 7, 2009 – FAO and the National Professional Football Association of Chile (ANFP) announced today a campaign to promote the fight against hunger with soccer fans.

This is the first alliance between FAO and the soccer world in Latin America and the Caribbean and, hopefully, it will inspire similar partnerships in other countries in the near future”, said FAO Representative in Chile, Margarita Flores.

The campaign “Fútbol chileno contra el hambre, juégatela” is part of the World Food Day activities. It will take place during two matches to be held on October 17 (Universidad Católica

v/s Unión Española) and October 18 (Universidad de Chile v/s Universidad de Concepción). Players of the four teams will walk onto the field with the message that everyone can contribute to the fight against hunger.

“At ANFP we believe that everyone wins with soccer and this partnership is an example of it. The alliance with FAO will help take the message against hunger to soccer fans all over the country and we are proud to participate”, said Eduardo Rojas, from ANFP.

Football against hunger in the World

The campaign in Chile repeats successful alliances that are already taking place in Europe since 2007, when the Spanish League dedicated two match days to raise funds for Telefood projects. In 2008, the effort was repeated in the Italian League and in March 2009, the European Professional Soccer League, in which 28 national leagues participate, organized match days for the “Football against hunger” campaign.

To celebrate World Food Day 2009, the national teams of France and Austria will also join the campaign for a world without hunger in the World Cup Qualifier match they will play on October 14, in Paris.