On Mother’s Day, a unique global initiative is launching to tackle the maternal health crisis through the power of soccer. Maternal mortality remains dangerously high, with over 700 women dying daily in 2023 from preventable pregnancy-related causes. Former professional soccer player Morad Fareed is introducing FC Mother, a platform designed to leverage football fandom to support expectant and new mothers with community and health-focused tools.
FC Mother connects mothers with services and support networks and gamifies their health progress based on survey responses. Each participant’s wellbeing is tracked through regular check-ins covering mental, emotional, and physical health indicators. Teams progress in a competition model—dubbed the “World Cup of Healing”—based on improvements in these outcomes. This innovative approach falls under Fareed’s broader concept of “H-sports,” or healing sports, using the global reach of athletics to promote public health.
The inaugural 60-day competition kicks off with three football clubs and their mother-fan communities in Brazil going head-to-head with three from the U.S.: Mothers of San Diego FC, Gotham FC, and Omaha Union. These pilot teams are guided by professionals including medical researchers from Harvard and team doctors from elite football clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Arsenal.
FC Mother has developed a global maternal health index by ranking 48 countries based on data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. The United States ranks 44th—worse than any other developed country—while Brazil sits at 46th. Team USA in this pilot program is coached by Jennie Joseph, founder of Commonsense Childbirth and a nationally recognized advocate for maternal health equity.
The platform’s goal is to enhance quality-adjusted life-years (QUALYs), a public health metric assessing life lived in perfect health. Studies show that robust social and emotional support during the perinatal period can significantly boost a mother’s long-term health and wellbeing, adding years of higher-quality life for both mothers and their children.
Users can access the platform via the FC Mother App or WhatsApp, gaining immediate support and connecting with fellow moms. While FC Mother doesn’t replace clinical care, it addresses the critical social determinants of health—like emotional wellbeing and daily interactions—that often go unaddressed in traditional systems.
Though mission-driven, FC Mother is a for-profit enterprise aiming to attract investment from sports organizations, corporations, and philanthropic funds seeking scalable, cost-effective public health solutions. The success of this kickoff competition could lead to participation from 40 football clubs in the 2026 World Cup edition.
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