Earth Cup
- Mika Vanhanen
- Dec 11, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 22
🟢Join Earth Cup 2026
Earth Cup 2026 is a youth-led global initiative where fair play becomes visible through a living balance of Heart, Head, and Hands — care, understanding, and action for people, animals, and the planet.
Young people take the lead by acting where they are: on the field, in schools, and in their communities. They may pause together, play together, or plant and care for Fair Play Trees  — allowing shared values to take root in real places.
From these actions, young people invite all generations to join them — growing fair play into a shared, visible practice across cultures and contexts.
A New Ritual for a New Era of Responsibility
Before every match or event, teams, schools, and communities are invited to begin with a simple four-minute ritual: The Fair Play Peace Circle®
A circle is formed — a living peace symbol.At the centre, a young person lifts a tree sapling like a trophy for the planet.
Fair Play starts with us.
Heart • Head • Hands — Values in Balance
The heart of our movement lies in the perfect balance of these three pillars.
🔴 Heart — Compassion and fairness. It is the will to care for others and our Earth.
🔵 Head — Understanding and wisdom. It is the knowledge of why and how we must act.
🟢 Hands — Action and responsibility. It is the concrete work of planting a better future.
True Fair Play is born when Heart, Head, and Hands are in balance.
Fair Play Trees — Your Action for Earth Cup 2026
As part of your Earth Cup activity — before or after the match, or whenever it fits — you are invited to plant a Fair Play Tree.
One tree or many. Small or large. What matters is the action.
Planters appear on the Earth Cup 2026 Global Map, showing how youth worldwide turn Fair Play into something real and visible.
How to Join - It's Simple
Watch the model video
Perform the Fair Play Peace Circle®
Plant a Fair Play Tree
Share with #FairPlayForEarth #FairPlayPeaceCircle #EarthCup2026
See the Ritual See how it works in practice:
Model video by IB students in Joensuu, Finland
🎵 Peace Grows in You
A shared song for the Earth Cup moment.
Sing together or listen.
Explore the 3D Living Sculpture
Earth Cup 2026 – Key International Dates
6 April – Sport for Development and Peace
22 April – Earth Day
16 May – Living Together in Peace
19 May – World Fair Play Day
25 May – World Football Day
5 June – World Environment Day
Who Can Participate Anyone can take part.
Youth and junior teams
Schools and universities
Clubs, academies and training groups
NGOs, community organisations
Cities promoting sustainability and peace
Individuals (Fair Play Trees)
Origins
The Fair Play Peace Circle® was created in Finland by the Peace Circle® Network, building on 25 years of global environmental and peace education.
10,000 schools • 157 countries • 30 million trees
Why Earth Cup 2026 Matters
Football is the world’s largest youth community. If even a fraction participates, Earth Cup 2026 becomes a global force for responsibility, unity and peace.
Contact & Media
Mika Vanhanen
Founder & Director, Peace Circle® Network
Plant And Care For Peace Association
11 December 2025 Comment from Tunisia – UNESCO Greening Education Partnership
“We are honored to join the Earth Cup 2026 initiative. Our school is strongly committed to peace education, sustainable development and the Greening Education Partnership (UNESCO). Our students will implement the Fair Play Peace Circle® and plant a Fair Play Tree in our community.
Thank you for this inspiring global movement.”
— Wafa Hamdi School Director, École Primaire Privée El Maarifa UNESCO GEP Advocate & Positive Peace Ambassador (IEP)
The Tunisian school ALMAARIFA is always eager to take part in events like this, which promote peace, respect for the environment and nature, as well as education for sustainable development.We strongly believe that such initiatives inspire students to embrace fair play, responsibility, and care for our planet and our shared future. Thank you for this meaningful event!
We are honored to join the Earth Cup 2026 initiative.
Our school is strongly committed to peace education, sustainable development and the Greening Education Partnership (UNESCO).
Our students will implement the Fair Play Peace Circle® and plant a Fair Play Tree in our community.
Thank you for this inspiring global movement.
Wafa Hamdi
School Director – El Maarifa
UNESCO GEP Advocate & Positive Peace Ambassador (IEP)