World Football Day 2026 marked a special and memorable moment for James Finies, Founder of the Bonaire Human Rights Organization and former National football player for the Netherlands Antilles, when he met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the High-Level Reception at the United Nations, hosted by the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations.
For James Finies, football has always been his great passion. He started as a player in the youth selections and later spent decades representing Bonaire in all football selections, as well as being a player for the National selection of the Netherlands Antilles. After his football career, he brought the same discipline, dedication, and fighting spirit to his work as a human rights defender, dedicating his whole life to fighting for the rights of the Bonairean people following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in 2010.
This year’s FIFA World Cup 2026 holds a special meaning for James Finies, especially now that our sister island of Curaçao has made history on the global stage as the country with the smallest population in world history to ever qualify for the world’s biggest football tournament. Finies has always believed and encouraged his peers that our islands possess the talent to reach a global level, and Curaçao’s historic achievement is proof that even small nations can rise to the highest international stage through our talent, determination, and perseverance.
At the United Nations in New York, the FIFA World Cup 2026 also took center stage as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, US Ambassador Mike Waltz, high-level international representatives, and delegates from Canada, Mexico, and the United States emphasized the unique power of football to unite nations, inspire communities, and strengthen international cooperation.
Adding further value to the occasion, signed official FIFA balls were presented during the celebration, making World Football Day 2026 an unforgettable moment of great pride for James Finies — a former football player whose journey continues to reflect the lasting connection between sports, leadership, and service to humanity.
