During the weekend at the Legia stadium at Łazienkowska Street, the 8th World Football Championship of Children from Orphanages will be played. Poland is the favourite. He will play in a group with Senegal, Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic and Portugal. Admission to the matches is free, Kamil Bednarek will perform at the end of the event.
The championship takes place after a four-year break caused by the pandemic. More than 200 players from 22 countries will take part in them. Poland is among the favorites – in the seven editions so far, our representatives have stood on the podium six times. They won a gold medal once, silver twice and bronze three times. The last tournament, in 2019, however, Poles ended the game in the quarter-finals. Now they want to get back on the podium.
Championships of Children from OrphanagesWarsaw City Hall
– Sport is a great emotion for fans and players. But such an event is about something more – shaping character, awakening aspirations, showing the way of development. This is important for children in every family, and for children growing up without parents, even more important – the statement of the President of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, was quoted in the communiqué. “I am cheering for all the participants of this tournament. That their football passion and the work they put into training will pay off not only on the pitch in Warsaw, but above all in the best possible future.
The coach-selector of the Polish team is Krzysztof Kot – a pupil of the orphanage in Kołaczkowo, who in 2013, at the 1st World Championships, together with the White-Reds, won the title of world champion.
– We met regularly at trainings, training camps and camps. Not everyone will be a great player, but everyone has a chance to be a good person. Such tournaments help in this – Krzysztof Kot’s statement was given in the message.
Matches and concerts
Games will start on Saturday morning. On Sunday – knockout phase, and from 15.40 – matches for medals. At 15.30 the gates of the stadium at Łazienkowska 3 will be opened for the fans. Entrance is free.
You will be able to take advantage of numerous attractions. According to the city hall, fans will be waiting m. a family play zone, a UNICEF Polska stand and food-trucks of the Festival of Flavors of the World.
After the matches, Kamil Bednarek will perform at the stadium at 5 pm.
Warsaw is the strategic partner of the event. The main partners included: Active Warsaw Sports Center and the Municipal Bus Company.
Championships of Children from OrphanagesWarsaw City Hall
“Football gives these kids energy to develop”
The organizer of the championship is the Hope for Mundial Association. Since 2010, it has been organizing sports and cultural events for children from care facilities. So far, it has organized 14 editions of the Polish Championships, European Championships, Ukrainian Championships in 2022 and 7 editions of the World Championships. So far, over six thousand children from 45 countries have taken part in the tournaments, including children from several dozen orphanages from all over Poland.
– Despite the difficult reality, our idea is growing and developing harmoniously. Football gives these kids energy for development and joy, which they often did not have much in their lives – says Sylwester Trześniewski, President of the Association, quoted in the release.
The Association, together with the UEFA Foundation for Children, runs the Mobile Football Academy, under which the coach of the Polish national team of children from orphanages conducts football trainings in care and education facilities throughout the country. “In cooperation with UEFA and PZPN, the association organized the Academy of Young Coaches – the first coaching courses in the world for the charges of care and education facilities and people associated with them (tutors, carers). 80 people who obtained the Junior Coach or full UEFA C coaching license.
Main photo source: Warsaw City Hall