Our History
In 2020, footballer and environmentalist Morten Thorsby realized the climate crisis kept unfolding while football remained silent. He founded We Play Green to give the game a voice — and use its influence to protect our planet, our nature, and the way we live.
Morten Thorsby
WPG Founder and football player for Genoa CFC
( Swipe cards for timeline )
2015
Bicycles for Herenveen
In 2015 Morten convinced his club Heerenveen to buy bicycles for players to ride from the training center to the stadium – a small but symbolic step toward a greener game.
2020
WPG Established
In 2020, a meeting with Italy’s Minister of the Environment, Sergio Costa, inspired Morten to connect the world’s most followed sport to the world’s most urgent challenge.
We Play Green was born – a global non-profit foundation dedicated to mobilizing the power of football for the planet.
2020
Why #2?
In 2020, Morten changed his shirt number to #2, symbolising the 2015 Paris Agreement goal of keeping global warming below 2°C. Since then, #2 has become the symbol of We Play Green — a reminder of both responsibility and hope. Today, it also lives in our statement “we all have a role #2play” — a rallying cry for everyone who believes sport can help save our planet.
Our Approach
Our Vision
Our vision is to speed up the green transition.
The triple crisis — pollution, nature loss, and global warming — threatens the way we live.
The only solution is a holistic, society-wide, and global green transition — transforming
our economy, politics, and lifestyles.
Our Mission
Our mission is to build Green Will.
People’s Green Will decides the speed of the green transition. Politics and markets mirror the
will of the people. When more people understand, care, and contribute, change accelerates.
That’s why We Play Green mobilises football players, clubs, and grassroots to grow
knowledge and spark contribution worldwide.
Our Audience
Our audience is the football family — players, fans, and clubs across all levels of the game. Through football’s reach and emotional power, We Play Green connects with over half the world’s population — and inspires action far beyond the sport.
Our Projects
Our projects fall into two pillars — Knowledge and Contribution.
Knowledge builds understanding and engagement; Contribution turns that knowledge and awareness into real action and change.
Meet the team
Our team consists of players, ex-players, coaches and ex-coaches from professional leagues worldwide.
Team Captain
Morten Thorsby
Norwegian
Midfielder
Genoa CFC (Serie A)
Norwegian National Team
Team Captain
Emilie Bølviken
Norwegian
Defender
Stabæk Fotball (Toppserien)
Team Captain
Christian Borchgrevink
Norwegian
Right-back
Hearts (Scottish Premiership)
Team Captain
Sofie Junge Pedersen
Danish
Midfielder
Inter Milan (Serie A)
Danish National Team
Ambassador
Siem de Jong
Dutch
Midfielder
Retired
Ambassador
Maarten de Fockert
Dutch
Goal Keeper
SteDoCo
Ambassador
Elin Landström
Swedish
Defender
Retired, AS Roma Women’s (Serie A)
Ambassador
Binta Barry
Gambian
Team manager
Super butterflies
Team Player
Julie Blakstad
Norwegian
Midfielder
Hammarby IF (Allsvenskan)
Norwegian National Team
Team Player
Jacob Widell Zetterstörm
Swedish
Goalkeeper
Derby County
Team Player
Maël Corboz
French/American
Midfielder
Arminia Bielefeld
Team Player
Emil Bohinen
Norwegian
Midfielder
Frosinone Calcio - on loan from Genoa CFC
Team Player
Bart Vriends
Dutch
Right-back
Adelaide United (A-league Men)
Team Player
Diane Caldwell
Irish (Republic of Ireland)
Defender
FC Zürich (Nationalliga A)
The Republic of Ireland National Team
Team Player
Susanne Haaland
Norwegian
Defender
Ottawa Rapid FC
Team Player
Rachel Corboz
French / American
Midfielder
Stade de Reims Féminines
Team Player
Zach Banzon
Filipino
Goalkeeper
Kaya FC-Iloilo (Philippines Football League)