It was a memorable evening yesterday at the Gewiss Stadium, both on the pitch and in the stands. During Italy’s win over Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final, the FIGC reaffirmed and strengthened its commitment to social and environmental sustainability by activating – for the seventh home match of the men’s national side – the format first introduced in 2024.

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

Quiet Room

The Quiet Room initiative was once again a great success, hosting ten athletes from Links, a club twinned with Como which competes in the league organised by the FIGC Paralympic and Experimental Football Division. The athletes, who also received a welcome visit from former Italy midfielder Massimo Ambrosini, were able to experience the match in a protected and welcoming environment, confirming the value of a space designed to promote inclusion and wellbeing.

Massimo Ambrosini meets guests in the Quiet Room at Bergamo Stadium

Audio description for blind and visually impaired supporters

The audio description service, available in the stadium in collaboration with CMT-Connect Me Too, enabled blind and visually impaired supporters to follow the match through a dedicated live commentary. For the first time, the service was also available remotely and recorded more than twenty supporters connected through the app, confirming growing interest and representing another concrete step towards a more accessible game.

For the first time, audio description services were available remotely for blind and visually impaired fans

Player Escorts

Five children (selected through the association Il sogno di Iaia among young patients at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital) walked onto the pitch alongside the Italian and Northern Irish players, enjoying a unique and deeply meaningful experience.

Week of Action

To mark the Accessibility Week of Action, the AccessibALL awareness visual was shown on the giant screens at the Bergamo stadium. Accompanied by the stadium announcer’s voice, the initiative was presented to supporters in attendance, promoting the hashtag #TotalAccess and helping raise awareness around the theme of inclusion.

The Accessibility Action Week's visual on the screens at the Bergamo Stadium

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainable catering

In the stadium’s hospitality areas, solutions aligned with the principles of the circular economy were adopted: the elimination of plastic, the use of organic and locally sourced products, and inclusive menu options, all of which reinforced the commitment to more responsible consumption models.

Redistribution of surplus food

At the end of the match, surplus food was recovered thanks to the support of the Fondazione Resmini and will be redistributed to people in vulnerable situations, contributing concretely to the reduction of food waste.

The initiatives carried out in Bergamo reaffirm the FIGC’s path towards an increasingly sustainable form of football – one capable of generating social and environmental value beyond the match itself, on a night made even more special by Italy’s win.