CHALLENGE:
While a majority of kids at one point dream of a career as a professional athlete (the #1 most desired role for teen boys, specifically), very few realize the incredible world of opportunities that exist to turn that passion into a career off the field. In partnership with Coca-Cola, and against the backdrop of FIFA World Cup 2026™ (the biggest FIFA World Cup ever), we set out to change that for a new generation of youth.
SOLUTION:
- rEvolution developed the Coca-Cola Future Careers Academy – an interactive learning and career development experience aimed at equipping young people with the skills and confidence to step into sports marketing and related industries.
- The program was designed to support underserved youth across key Coca-Cola partners including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Special Olympics, Girls Inc, and more.
- From crafting early program strategy to determining an impactful mix of both online learning modules and in-person experiences, to the development of the name, messaging, and look and feel – we worked collaboratively to shape each element of the program.
- We identified a group of industry-leaders in soccer and beyond, both from within The Coca-Cola Company as well as their partner organizations, and worked hand-in-hand to develop over 2.5 hours of course material, all complemented by interactive quizzes for participants.
- Eager participants immersed themselves in soccer-focused education including Global Events 101, Media & Broadcast, Marketing & Sponsorship, Creative & Design, and Leadership, earning brag-worthy badges along the way.
- In addition to the robust online experience, the Coca-Cola FC Academy initiative directly supported the training of 130 volunteers for FIFA World Cup 2026TM and awarded more than 2000 U.S. Soccer referee certifications – granting real world experience and serving real organizational need.
- We worked closely with key leaders across all Coca-Cola community partner organizations to advise and tailor the process for the tastes and cultural sensitivities of specific audiences.
