Logistics with Purpose Classic: The Amazing Power of Football – Honey Thaljieh with FIFA and Homeless World Cup

Football can be much more than a game. It can challenge social barriers, bring communities together, and give people the confidence to imagine a different future.

Honey Thaljieh, FIFA’s public relations manager and a pioneering advocate for equality, inclusion, and human rights, shares how football helped shape her journey from the streets of Bethlehem to the international stage. As the first woman to captain the Palestinian national football team and a co-founder of women’s football in Palestine, Honey has spent her career challenging expectations and opening doors for others.

Growing up in a community affected by conflict, Honey saw how circumstances could limit people’s opportunities, especially those of girls and women. When she began playing football with boys in the streets, she faced resistance from people who believed the sport was not appropriate for girls. But she refused to accept those limitations. Her determination to play became part of a much bigger ambition: to help create opportunities for others through sport.

Honey reflects on how the dream of playing football evolved into a commitment to building the women’s game in Palestine and eventually working at FIFA. She explains why the impact of sport extends far beyond the field, creating opportunities for dialogue, equality, and connection across communities.

The conversation also explores her connection with the Homeless World Cup, an initiative that uses football to engage people experiencing homelessness and other forms of marginalization. Through global partnerships and social impact programs, Honey works to help make sport more accessible and ensure that people from underserved communities have opportunities to participate and thrive.

For Honey, football’s greatest power lies in its ability to unite people around shared values. Her story is a reminder that change often starts with a simple dream, the courage to challenge expectations, and the determination to make opportunities possible for others.