Recap: 3rd Annual Global Goals World Cup Hosted By The United Nations Development Program With Special Guest Nikolaj Coster-Waldau & Akon

Hosted by UNDP and Danish sports organization, Eir Soccer, in partnership with SDG Advocates and the UN Office of Partnership, the 3rd Annual Global Goals World Cup kicked off yesterday with special guests that included: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, star of HBO’s Game of Thrones, and UN Development Programme’s Goodwill Ambassador; Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Akon, Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen, Indie pop artist Athina, Danish winger/songwriter Pil Press, and creative activist, co-founder ofto.org and first time GGWCup referee Nachson Mimran at the Global Goals World Cup in New York City.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Co-founder of Global Goals World Cup Majken Gilmartin, Actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Female Quotient CEO Shelley Zalis, Recording artist Akon, Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway, Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, Author Ann Rosenberg, Peace advocate Victor Ochen and Danish athlete Rikke Ronholt attend the 3rd Annual Global Goals World Cup at the SAP Leonardo Centre on September 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for UNDP )

The 48th floor of the SAP building at 10 Hudson Yards was transformed into a football pitch where 24 amateur women’s teams vied for the trophy designed by artist, Olafur Eliasson. The project transcends borders and social backgrounds for a common cause: creating awareness about alternative modes of consumption for a more sustainable future.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Participants at the 3rd Annual Global Goals World Cup at the SAP Leonardo Centre on September 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for UNDP )

Games were refereed by Crown Prince Haakon and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, with Al Jazeera’s Femi Oke in the announcers’ booth.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg and Actorc participate in activities during the 3rd Annual Global Goals World Cup at the SAP Leonardo Centre on September 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for UNDP )

Akon was in attendance while Indie pop artist Athina and Danish winger/songwriter Pil Press performed between the games and panels.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Recording aratist Akon participate in the game during the 3rd Annual Global Goals World Cup at the SAP Leonardo Centre on September 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for UNDP )

To qualify, each team has led a campaign of advocacy and action for one of the 17Global Goals. They competed by a unique set of rules that decided the games based on action, mobilization, style and soccer skills -panels showcasing ground-breaking women ran concurrently in the space all afternoon-.

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Recording artist Athina performs at the 3rd Annual Global Goals World Cup at the SAP Leonardo Centre on September 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for UNDP )

For more info visit  GGWCUP.com.