In the News
October 02, 2009
Visa uses sports to mix fun with financial literacy
Financial powerhouse Visa is reaching out to youth and adults through video games to teach financial literacy. Visa is in its fifth year of promoting Financial Football, a money management computer game based on football, and in late September, it unveiled its latest venture, Financial Soccer.
Visa collaborates with the National Football League (NFL) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and their respective star athletes to connect with kids and get them interested in a financial future. Each computer game pairs the respective sports structure and rules with financial literacy questions. Players move on the field and score based on their answers to those questions, which vary in difficulty; incorrect answers result in penalties. The questions are based on Visas financial literacy program, Practical Money Skills for Life.
Each sports league calls on its athletes to promote financial literacy using the video games throughout the country at schools and other youth-oriented events. Financial Soccer was unveiled in New York City at a high school known for its soccer talent with soccer stars Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian McBride (Chicago Fire), and Jorge Campos (Mexican National Team) in attendance.
Financial Football will soon be distributed to every high school in 23 states from Arizona to Wisconsin. The online version has been downloaded over 350,000 times.
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