April 2: Gazprom, the official partner of FIFA and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has announced the opening of the Sixth Season of the Football for Friendship (F4F) International Children's Social Project. The project has been launched in Nepal for the first time. The goal of the programme is to involve the young generation throughout the world in promoting the most important human values among their peers - friendship, equality, peace and respect for different cultures and nationalities.

The Football for Friendship (F4F) Open Draw was held in Moscow. The program has expanded from 64 countries in 2017 to 211 countries and regions in 2018. Thirty-two international teams of friendship were formed during the open draw, as well as playing roles for each young player from each country (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder or forward) were determined, reads a press statement issued by the company. These 32 teams will compete in the Football for Friendship World Championship on June 12.

As per the open draw, a young player from Nepal will play as a “forward” in the International Team of Friendship.

The teams are organized using the "football for friendship" principle - athletes of different nationalities, different genders and different physical abilities will play in one team. Age of players is 12. Each international mixed team of friendship will be trained by young coaches - football players of 14-16 year olds from different countries.

According to the press statement, national selections of participants who will become Young Ambassadors of peace, friendship and equality in their countries have started all over the world.

The day after the Football for Friendship World Championship, the young ambassadors will meet at the most important event — The Sixth International Football for Friendship Children’s Forum, where they will discuss ways of promoting the programme’s key values across the globe.

During the International Friendship Camp, young players under the guidance of young coaches and under the supervision of famous players will be learning of F4F key values in the Nine Values School. The UN considers this initiative as a unique educational programme.

As an ecological initiative of Football for Friendship all the 32 International Teams of Friendship named after endangered animals of all the continents of the world.

Sanjib Mishra, deputy general secretary of All Nepal Football Association said, “The 6th Gazprom Football for Friendship being held in collaboration with FIFA is an event that brings together children from 211 countries and regions. We are delighted to support the programme and will be nominating two young students from Nepal to participate in the programme in Moscow in June. We look forward to these young children becoming a part of a global movement of football for peace.”