On December 22, the opening ceremony of the IV International Youth Mini-football Tournament "International Friendship Cup" took place in Belgrade. The tournament became a key event of the visit of the World Youth Festival Directorate delegation to Serbia. The visit will take place in Belgrade from December 20 to December 24.
8 football teams from Serbia, Russia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina are taking part in the competition. Our country is represented in the tournament by young athletes of the "Shakhter" football club from the Donetsk People's Republic.
Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate, spoke at the opening ceremony.
"I am convinced that sport is a universal language of communication. Artificial barriers are overcome on the sports field, and joint emotions create an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding between participants and the audience. The "International Friendship Cup" mini-football tournament has become a practical embodiment of the values of friendship and cooperation, which are consistently promoted by the World Youth Festival Directorate. Winning, of course, is important for every athlete, but the key result of participation should be the establishment of friendly ties and willingness to further interact outside the sports field. Next year, on behalf of President Vladimir Putin, the International Festival of Youth will be held in the Russian Federation, which will bring together 10,000 young people from 190 countries. We invite all participants of the tournament and fans to join this large-scale international event. The World Youth Festival Directorate is open for cooperation, is ready to assist in the self-realization of youth and is always glad to see our friends from abroad in Russia," said Dmitry Ivanov, Director General of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
Alexander Voloshin, a senator of the Federation Council from the Donetsk People's Republic, also arrived in Serbia as part of the Russian delegation.
"We are very grateful to the fraternal Serbian people for the warm welcome and for the fact that, despite political pressure, we were able to put aside prejudice and, continuing the glorious traditions of our ancestors, build good-neighborly relations and invite the team from the Donetsk People's Republic, representing Russia, to this tournament. Thanks to the tournament, the children were able to meet their peers from other European countries and take part in such a significant international competition. This is especially important for them: participation in the "International Friendship Cup" here in Serbia gives an impetus, hope for overcoming isolation and the opportunity to build horizontal ties. Today, these guys are laying the foundation for friendship between nations. Our generation has created a system of such relationships, and our task is to prepare the next generation so that friendship can continue. Tournaments with the symbolic name “International Friendship Cup" show that no artificial political obstacles can destroy friendly ties between our peoples. I hope the guys will be able to carry this friendship through their whole lives and no politicians could prevent our peoples from building fraternal relations," said Alexander Voloshin.
Alexander Konanykhin, Counselor-Envoy of the Russian Embassy in Serbia, also addressed the participants of the tournament:
"I am glad to see Serbian and Russian youth at this sporting event: it confirms the continuity of traditions and common values that we pass on from generation to generation for the common good. I would especially like to emphasize the participation of the youth team of the Donetsk People's Republic. Historically, our peoples are closely linked: in the 18th century, tens of thousands of Serbs, at the invitation of the Empress, moved to the territory of modern Donbass, where the Slavonic-Serbian autonomy was formed as part of the Russian Empire. Today, while preserving these common traditions, we are pleased to welcome the team from Donetsk and all participants of the tournament. The upcoming matches are a clear confirmation that this tournament can rightfully be called the tournament of friendship and brotherhood between Russia and Serbia."
The tournament is organized by the charity Foundation of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, co–organized by the World Youth Festival Directorate with the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
"When we first organized this tournament, only two teams participated in it, and after the first successful event, it became clear that the tournament has a great future. Today I am glad to welcome eight teams and see how we communicate and make friends here in Serbia. It is important for us that the participants not only compete and win, but also get to know each other and make friends. Here we are fighting for true friendship!" said Milosh Tanaskovich, Director of the charity Foundation of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
The teams will play according to the rules of the Football Union of Serbia. Today, the team will play matches in groups, and on 23rd there will be matches for 7th, 5th, 3rd places and the final. Winners and prize-winners will receive medals, cups and special surprise prizes.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place on March 1–7, 2024 in Sirius, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.
In accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on preserving and developing the legacy of the World Youth Festival, which took place on the Sirius Federal Territory in 2024 and united 20,000 young people from 190 countries of the world, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030. In 2026, there will be a smaller event, an International Youth Festival with 10,000 participants. In between, the World Youth Festival’s themed Assemblies will be held annually for 2,000 participants.
The first World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod from September 17 to 21, 2025 and brought together 2,000 young people from 120 countries.
The World Youth Festival Directorate continues the work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.