MIAMI, Fla. (CBS12) — Drivers across Miami may notice an eye-catching public health message this week: a giant soccer-themed condom stretched across billboards ahead of FIFA World Cup events.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation launched the safe-sex campaign in cities hosting FIFA events, using the excitement around soccer to encourage condom use and remind fans to protect themselves.

The campaign’s “GOOOOOOOOOAL!” billboards show the familiar black-and-white pattern of a soccer ball wrapped around a condom, with AHF’s useacondom.com website printed underneath. The message is meant to be playful but direct: score safely.

The campaign is running in six cities nationwide where FIFA events are scheduled: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia and Seattle. In South Florida, two billboards are in Miami and one is in North Miami.

Imara Canady, national director of community engagement and communications for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said the campaign is designed to reach people during a period when large events and summer gatherings can coincide with higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases.

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“As a public health organization, it’s our responsibility to broaden community knowledge,” Canady said, adding that many people may not know where to find free prevention tools such as condoms.

Canady said the soccer-themed billboards offer a timely way to connect the message with the global attention on Miami and other World Cup host cities.

“It’s a fun way that ties into that, while the world is coming to cities like Miami,” Canady said. “The billboards are a reminder that you still need to protect yourself, especially with what the statistics show.”

According to FIFA, about 5 billion people engaged with the 2022 World Cup, while an estimated 1.5 billion watched the final between Argentina and France.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in the Miami area begin Monday. All seven South Florida matches will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

AHF provides free condoms at many of its facilities nationwide, including its healthcare centers, wellness centers, pharmacies and Out of the Closet thrift stores. The organization also offers free STI and HIV testing at wellness centers in 15 states.

Material from our news partners at The South Florida Sun Sentinel was used in this report.