32 international teams have been selected for the annual Gazprom International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship Championship. 

Children from all over the world will compete for the title of Football for Friendship World Champions and for tickets to the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul. 

On 27 November the teams were determined in a live draw, during a broadcast which featured footballing legend and project ambassador Roberto Carlos, along with Adviser to the President of the Football Union of Russia Alexey Smertin, Head of Football Education Services at UEFA Frank Ludolph, and professional FIFA player, currently playing for FC Schalke 04, Tim “Latka” Schwartmann

Matteo de Venecia (Philippines), Kinley Deki Yangzom (Bhutan), Irintsu Rakotomamoni (Madagascar), and Evgenia Gorbunova (Russia) selected 32 international teams (8 groups of 4 teams each).

The initiative runs through to 9 December 2020, with the following scheduled:

• 30 Nov. – 4 Dec. – 2020 Online International Football for Friendship Forum and Award, featuring projects in the fields of children’s sports development.
• 28 Nov. – 9 Dec. – Online Football for Friendship International Children’s Press Center, where Young Journalists study and work.
• 28 Nov. – 6 Dec. – Online International Friendship Camp with a humanitarian and sports programme for children.
• 7-8 Dec. – Qualifying games of the 2020 Football for Friendship eWorld Championship.
• 9 Dec. – Football for Friendship Grand Final, where the winners and lucky ticket holders for the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul will be determined.

Discussing the initiative Roberto Carlos said:

“Football for Friendship is a real social lift, giving the younger generation the opportunity to realize their potential and make their dreams come true. 

“Today, Football for Friendship is once again uniting Young Players, aspiring Young Journalists and simply young people with a passion for sports from all over the world, and everyone here will be able to learn something new, make new friends, and just have an unforgettable experience.”

While Chairman of the Gazprom Board of Directors, Viktor Zubkov, added:

“Today, we can take pride in a whole generation of grown-up athletes, public figures, journalists and simply goal-oriented young people, who were given amazing opportunities for a professional start by Football for Friendship. I would like to congratulate and wish good luck to all participants of the 2020 Football for Friendship Season.”

The Football for Friendship World Championship is usually held in different cities prior to the final matches of the UEFA Champions League, but this year the ongoing COVID-19 crisis forced organisers to switch to an online format, using the new Football for Friendship World Football Simulator. 

The game app will be made available to the general public on 10 December – World Football Day. You can download it for free for MS Windows, Apple MacOS, Android, iOS.

AYO.NEWS says:

No doubt the lack of the usual in-person football and activities will be missed by many kids, it’s great to see organisers embrace esports to allow the championship to continue through these challenging times. We’ve got a feeling that, even if normality returns, the Football for Friendship programme will permanently integrate some of the innovations it employs this year. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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