The main purpose of this article is to map determinant attributes that define and enable financial sustainability in sport non-governmental organizations associated with international development (SNGDOs). An exploratory case study examined through a two staged mixed approach the 48 organizations, chosen by FIFA Foundation to participate at the 2018 World Cup Russia 2018 Social Festival, mirroring football from a different dimension, distant to the competitive perceptions normally assigned to this sport. The main outcome was to note that Global South countries SNGDOs´ financial sustainability is dependent on international aid agencies funds whilst in the Global North there is higher leverage on corporate partnerships. Financial sustainability should not be seen as an isolated topic in the management agenda of SNGDOs in the quest of new sources of income. This is rather a process of construction and assessment that implies on the one hand a wider approach on stakeholder expectations and on the other an overall strategical re-definition towards collaborative value creation. In view of the broad extension of nonprofit organizations, this study contributes to the still unexplored field of sport for development. Moreover, this academic exercise proposes a critical view of contrasting results through dependency theory. Some biases may exist within the consideration of a particular context, and the specificities of the examined organizations in the case study.