'Football's about rivalry, yet it unites': World marks International Day of Football & Friendship

What can bring tens of thousands of children from all across the world together? Football! Since 2015, April 25th has been celebrated as the International day of Football and Friendship - and this year is no different.

On this day, schools across the world host training sessions and friendly games for young footballers. Over 40,000 participants from more than 50 countries joined in this year – from the UK and Bangladesh to Japan and Bolivia.

In Russia, open classes have been held in all 11 host cities of last year’s FIFA World Cup; in the nation’s capital Moscow, children from all across the land came for a short tour at the Russian Football Union (RFU).

The day was hosted by Russian national team the manager Stanislav Cherchesov, as well as Soviet football legend Nikita Simonyan and ex-Russia international Alexey Smertin.

The latter, who won the English Premier League title in 2005 with Chelsea and also played France with Bordeaux, also held a class for the young players.

He told RT: “Football is about rivalry, yet it’s the platform which unites. It helps children to grow as a person. Let’s admit – not all of these children will become professional footballers. But they will grow up as personalities – and this event would help them greatly.”

These events have been part of the Football for Friendship program, which will culminate in Madrid on May 28th- June 2nd, just before the UEFA Champions League Final is played in the Spanish capital .

Children from 211 countries, all FIFA member states, will have a final of their own – the 2019 Football for Friendship World Championship, which will be played at Madrid’s central square, Plaza Mayor, a day before the UCL showpiece match.