World Cup of Financial Literacy – Countries Vie For Top Rank

Just as the World Cup has electrified soccer fans throughout the world in recent weeks, financial literacy professionals are similarly galvanized by the Financial Literacy World Cup, a fast-growing online game created by global payments giant Visa that combines financial literacy with the world’s most popular sport of soccer.

The current leaderboard for Financial Soccer has the top five countries of the United States, Malaysia, India, Canada and Argentina. The rankings include countries with and without a World Cup team.

The Financial Soccer game is part of Visa’s expansive set of initiatives developed to improve financial literacy in communities throughout the world. The game is fast-paced and interactive, with users answering financial questions in order to pass or shoot the ball. Long passes require correct answers to more difficult questions, while short passes can be achieved by answering easier questions.

One of the elements that makes the game more tailored to the relevant group of participants is its classification into three categories, including the amateur level, which has questions best suited for ages 11 to 14; semi-pro level, for ages 14 to 18; and world class level for individuals older than 18. Participants can select games that range in time between five and thirty minutes.

Visa’s launch of Financial Soccer also coincides with another fast-growing trend in the financial literacy industry; namely, the use of online, digital and interactive games and other multi-media products to teach financial education. Research has demonstrated that the use of digital and interactive financial literacy solutions are impactful, particularly among kids. With much of the world’s population recently focused on the World Cup, and with the sense of nationalism pushing all-time highs, Visa’s Financial Soccer is well positioned to continue its strong success in teaching financial education globally in the months ahead.