FIFA President Joseph Blatter has reiterated the world soccer body's commitment to a better future for every child through access to education, local media reported Saturday.

    In his New Year message to football fans, Blatter said the soccer governing body's mission was not only to develop football.

    "It is our duty to make a positive contribution to the creation of a better future," he said.

    According to him, FIFA's 1GOAL Education for All campaign was to use football as a platform to improve access to education and health care for children and the young around the world.

    The world soccer chief said the concept of education for every child could be taken for granted in many parts of the world, but the reality sometimes is very different.

    He said the eyes of the world would be turned to Africa next year when South Africa would host the first World Cup in the continent. Blatter said football could be used to build bridges between people and contribute positively to society by inculcating values such as solidarity, respect and fair play.

    He said FIFA established Football for Hope four years ago as the cornerstone of its corporate social responsibility to support, advise and strengthen sustainable social and human development programs in the areas of health, children's rights, education, anti-discrimination and social integration.

    He described the outgoing year as a successful and exciting football year that featured top-class FIFA competitions. He said the football family stood together and cooperated to stage the competitions.

    Africa hosted three of FIFA's competitions in 2009.

    The competitions are the FIFA Confederations Cup, which was held in South Africa in July, the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in September and the Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria in October/November.

    "One of the final, and most spectacular, events in the annual FIFA calendar is the FIFA World Player Gala and once again, we honored the best male and female players, who are the key element and most important figures in our game," Blatter said.

    The FIFA chief added that he was looking forward to sharing another memorable 12 months with all soccer fans in the world in 2010.