Over 1000 young football players from over 100 countries participated in the largest online football event in history. The new world record was recorded live during a master class by world football legend Roberto Carlos, Global Ambassador of Gazprom International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship.

On December 5, 2020, a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ achievement was registered as part of the final events of the Eighth Season of Football for Friendship. Young Participants from over 100 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Australia and Oceania, along with world-famous football stars, took part in the most popular online football event in the world.

The event lasting over two and a half hours with live video feeds from France, Brazil, Russia, Uruguay, Pakistan, Ireland, Cyprus, Peru, India, Guyana, and Spain was organized by the global operator of the Football for Friendship programme, AGT Communication Group. The GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ adjudicator was responsible for the accuracy in counting the event participants, registering the record in real time from London. Participants from over 100 countries repeated warm-ups, tricks, and shared their achievements with each other online. A total of 1 009 master class participants were recorded. Among the co-authors of the world record are the World Cup winner Roberto Carlos, six-time world football freestyle champion Melody Donchet, two-time world football freestyle champion Anton Pavlinov, France freestyle champion Andreas Cetkovic and dozens of football masters and world-famous freestylers from different countries.

“We have witnessed Football for Friendship officially setting the record for the Most users in a football/soccer video hangout. What a success! All the guidelines were properly followed during the online event, and the current record of 500 users has been broken! Our congratulations on achieving this new title!  On behalf of GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™, it is a great honor to present you with this certificate for the Most users in a football/soccer video hangout. We declare Gazprom Football for Friendship Officially Amazing!”, said Victor Fenes, the Official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Adjudicator, confirming the achievement of the world record.

The global master class became a beautiful way to round off the first season of the international Stadium Is Where I Am YouTube show, launched by Football for Friendship. From July to December, the world’s best freestylers and footballers taught children football tricks, shared the secrets of sporting skills, and gave away unique prizes.

“The Stadium Is Where I Am is a very useful project, where you can share your experience with young people from all over the world! It is a great honour for me to inspire young people and pass on my love for freestyle football so that this sport can continue developing further. I hope they will continue training and never give up, just like me”, supports the initiative the reigning freestyle champion Melody Donchet, sharing her impressions.

In 2019, the Gazprom International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship obtained another GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Most nationalities in a football (soccer) training session in history. In 2020, participants of the Football for Friendship programme from all over the world once again proved that you can overcome any barriers in achieving your goals.

The 2020 season of the Football for Friendship programme is held online. The season finale will be broadcast live on December 9, 2020.

About the programme:

The International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship is implemented by Gazprom since 2013. Over the previous seven seasons, the programme has united over 6 000 participants from 211 countries and regions and over 5 000 000 supporters.

Young Players and Young Journalists are the participants of the programme – boys and girls aged 12 including children with disabilities. Young Players represent different countries and cultures united in the mixed teams. They show that nationality, gender, and physical abilities aren’t a barrier to becoming a team. Young Journalists cover the events of the programme in the International Children’s Press Center. All participants become Young Ambassadors of the programme and continue to share their Football for Friendship experience and promote universal human values: friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions, and honour.

UEFA, FIFA, football federations and the world’s leading football clubs, international charity foundations, famous athletes, politicians, and artists support Football for Friendship. The project has received multiple national and international awards in the field of social responsibility, sports, and communications, including the world record for the most nationalities in a football training session in history.

In 2020, Football for Friendship will be held in the online format. A special digital platform will unite over 10 000 players of all ages. It will become the home for international children’s competitions and a playground where anyone will be able to train, join into the international mixed teams and play their favourite game in the Football for Friendship format without leaving the comfort of their home.

Programme’s official internet resources:

Website: https://www.gazprom-football.com/football-for-friendship/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/footballforfriendship/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FootballForFriendship/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FOOTBALL4FRIENDSHIP   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/f4fprogramme  

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_for_Friendship