Children’s project aiming for better world through football

GAZPROM, the official partner of Fifa and the 2018 Fifa World Cup, announced the opening of the sixth season of the Football for Friendship (F4F) international children’s social project.
The project was launched in Papua New Guinea for the first time.
The goal of the programme is to involve the young generation throughout the world in promoting friendship, equality, peace and respect for different cultures and nationalities.
The F4F open draw was held in Moscow.
The programme expanded from 64 countries last year to 211 nations and regions in 2018.
Thirty-two international teams were formed during the draw, as well as playing roles for each player from each country (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder or forward) were determined.
The teams will compete at the Football for Friendship World Championship on June 12.
As per the draw, the young ambassador from PNG will play as a “midfielder” in an international team. The final events of the season will be held in Moscow, Russia, from June 8-15.
The teams are organised using the “football for friendship” principle — athletes of different nationalities, different genders and different physical abilities will play in one team. The age of players is 12 years.
Each international mixed team of friendship will be trained by young coaches — football players of 14-16 years from different countries.
More than 5000 media from around the world will cover the programme events, as well as the F4F international children’s press centre, consisting of 12-year-old journalists from 211 countries and regions.
“The experience will inspire two young ambassadors of PNG and be remembered for the rest of lives,” PNG Football Association general secretary Dimirit Mileng said.