We look at how sport is being used to help others by each World Cup 2014 qualifying country. 

Group A

Brazil

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari
Star man: Neymar
Tournament best: Winners 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

A nonprofit organisation using sport: Urece Sports and Culture for the Blind

Urece Sports and Culture for the Blind, based in Rio de Janeiro, develops lessons and sports training, workshops, and special projects for people with visual disabilities of all ages. The organisation is for people with visual impairments, and is led by people with visual impairments.

Croatia

Coach: Niko Kovac
Star man: Mario Mandzukic
Tournament best: Third 1998

A nonprofit organisation using sport: Cross Cultures Project Association

The grassroots football programme of the Cross Cultures Project Association (CCPA) promotes reconciliation and conflict management in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. CCPA believes that football should be open to all. 3 different sport and education programmes are run for children, volunteers, and local stakeholders in post conflict countries.

Mexico

Coach: Miguel Herrera
Star man: Javier Hernandez
Tournament best: Quarter-finals 1970, 1986

A nonprofit organisation using sport: Impulsando al Golf Professional Mexicano

With no professional tour in Mexico for women, the cost of pursuing golf is extremely high.  Impulsando al Golf Professional Mexicano raises money from businesses and uses it to help pay for entry fees, qualifying, school, and travelling costs for women who would otherwise not be able to take part in the sport.

Prior to setting up the charity, the Founders learned of young women golfers from Mexico traveling throughout the U.S. with very limited resources, driving great distances on their own with no support other than from family and friends. Some had turned their cars into their homes with the back seat serving as a closet, and found it difficult to perform at the highest level.

Cameroon

Coach: Volker Finke
Star man: Samuel Eto’o
Tournament best: Quarter-finals 1990

A nonprofit organisation using sport: The African Volunteer Football Academy for the Less Privileged (AVFAL)

The African Volunteer Football Academy for the Less Privileged (AVFAL) is a Charitable Football Organisation based in Limbe, Cameroon, Freetown in Sierra Leone and Nakuru, Kenya. AVFAL’s major objective is to provide soccer training to less privileged African Children, whilst also educating them on the HIV / AIDS pandemic, child labour, and child and women trafficking.

Group B

Spain

Coach: Vicente del Bosque
Star man: Andres Iniesta
Tournament best: Winners 2010

A nonprofit organisation using sport: The Real Madrid Foundation

The Real Madrid Foundation aims to promote sport and use it as an educational tool in Spain and abroad. Through 47 socio-sporting football schools around 5,000 boys and girls in Spain are educated in weekly training sessions with the “They play, we educate” programme.

The Real Madrid Foundation focuses its activities on infants and youths but also provides care for adults, as well as groups in Hospitals, Prisons, Shelters and Detention Facilities, where values are taught that will accompany the participants throughout their lives.

Netherlands

Coach: Louis van Gaal
Star man: Robin van Persie
Tournament best: Runners-up 1974, 1978, 2010

A nonprofit organisation using sport: Jeugdsportfonds

The aim of the charity Jeugdsportfonds is to enable as many children as possible to realise their dreams in terms of sport. The charity pays for children aged between 4 – 18 years from disadvantaged backgrounds to join a sports club.

Chile

Coach: Jorge Sampaoli
Star man: Alexis Sanchez
Tournament best: Third 1962

A nonprofit organisation using sport: Gol Iluminado Corporation

At Gol Illuminado Corporation, values ​​such as teamwork, discipline and perseverance are taught through football workshops.  Every year, since 2007, a Match for Peace football event has been held.

Australia

Coach: Ange Postecoglou
Star man: Robbie Kruse
Tournament best: Last 16 2006

A nonprofit organisation using sport: Boots For All

Boots For All break down barriers to sport participation and strengthen communities by collecting and distributing quality, new and used sporting equipment to vulnerable Australians.

Come back tomorrow to read about the countries in Group C & D!