Thimphu City FC becomes the first football club from Bhutan—and the entire Central Asia region—to join the global Sports for Nature Framework, marking a historic step for both the nation and the region in linking sport with environmental action.
Coinciding with World Wildlife Day, Thimphu City FC is proud to share that we have officially joined the Sports for Nature Framework, becoming the first signatory from Bhutan and the Central Asia region. This recognition is more than symbolic—it affirms our deep-rooted belief that football can be a vehicle for meaningful change far beyond the pitch.
For years, Thimphu City FC has woven environmental and community action into the heart of its mission. Under our club-wide program C4C – City for a Cause, City for Community, we have led multiple initiatives aimed at creating positive social and ecological impact. One of our most defining campaigns, Goals for a Cause, channels the energy and excitement of football into tangible conservation work. For every goal scored by our team, we donate US$20 to support efforts to protect the critically endangered white-bellied heron, a bird species so rare that fewer than 60 are known to exist, with nearly half residing in Bhutan. These funds support the White-Bellied Heron Conservation Center and contribute directly to preserving their fragile riverine habitat.
Our commitment to conservation is also personal. Thimphu City FC is owned by Hishey Tshering, a nationally respected conservationist and birder whose work has long inspired environmental awareness across Bhutan. His passion for nature is deeply infused into the ethos of the club, guiding how we view our role—not just in Bhutanese football, but in society.
Joining the Sports for Nature Framework is a natural evolution of this work. The framework is a global agreement that brings together sports teams, leagues, and organizations from around the world, each pledging to protect and restore nature through their platforms. Our participation places us alongside a growing list of international clubs and competitions who recognize that sport has both a responsibility and an opportunity to lead on environmental action.
For Thimphu City FC, this commitment means continuing to integrate sustainability into our operations, amplifying conservation messages through our platforms, and engaging our community—especially the youth—in seeing environmental care as part of everyday life. Whether it’s how we travel, how we train, or how we celebrate each goal, we understand that small changes on our part can help shift the larger conversation.
This milestone also carries a message from Bhutan to the world. As a nation known for its visionary approach to environmental protection and its philosophy of Gross National Happiness, Bhutan stands as a model of ecological responsibility. Now, through sport, we’re extending that message globally—reminding the world that even small clubs from small nations can take bold steps toward a better future.
This is more than football. It’s about protecting the air we breathe, the rivers that sustain us, and the wildlife we share our home with. It’s about using the joy of the game to inspire a deeper sense of purpose.
As we move forward, we remain committed to this path—building a club that is not only successful in the league table but also a champion for nature, community, and change.
