Players from Switzerland's FIFA World Cup 2026™ squad spent time with more than 500 students from the San Diego Jewish Academy on the opening day of training at their Team Base Camp, launching the Be Active initiative at the tournament.

Alongside media representatives and guests from the Swiss Consulate, children aged 3 to 16 and their teachers watched manager Murat Yakin's squad prepare for their Group B opener against Qatar at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on 13 June — then stepped onto the pitch themselves for mini-drills with stars including Granit Xhaka and Manuel Akanji.

A campaign rooted in global health data

Be Active was developed jointly by FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022™. The initiative responds to WHO research showing that four in five children worldwide are not meeting recommended levels of physical activity. The programme encourages young people to move for at least 60 minutes every day, with football as a central vehicle for building healthier habits.

The impact on the students was clear. "I feel like when I am on the pitch and running and just feeling the wind, feeling the grass; it just makes me feel happy," said student Alan Liff. "You do not get to meet the Swiss national team, ever — these guys are going to be playing on live television, billions of people are going to be watching them."

Shelly Moses, Associate Head of the Lower School, framed the occasion in broader educational terms. "The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, so for FIFA and the Swiss team to give our students the opportunity to come and interact with the team and do some drills is an amazing experience they are going to remember for the rest of their lives," she said. Moses added that regular exercise helps children think more clearly, collaborate more effectively, and perform better academically — with brain research confirming that 60 minutes of daily activity positively affects development and learning.

Autographs, selfies, and lasting memories

The Team Base Camp was decorated with educational posters, balloons, and campaign materials reinforcing the Be Active message. Switzerland's players signed autographs and posed for selfies, bringing genuine warmth to their interactions with the youngsters.

The San Diego event is the first of several planned across the three co-host countries throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026™, which kicks off on 11 June and is the most inclusive FIFA World Cup™ ever held, featuring 48 nations. Other participating teams will host comparable sessions at their own Team Base Camps before and during the tournament.

FIFA has also released the FIFA World Cup 2026 Be Active Workout video online, set to GOALS — a track from the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album featuring LISA, Anitta, and Rema — to help children follow a structured routine as part of their daily 60 minutes of activity.