More Than 25,000 Fans Attend KFC Mini-Football Championship in Moscow

Jul 28, 2015 8:50 AM ET

Yum! Global Newsroom: Community

KFC’s Mini-Football Championship, an International soccer tournament, took place earlier this month in Moscow, Russia with over 2,000 teams and more than 15,000 players participating.

After six months of regional qualifying battles and daily trainings, teenage players ages 14-16 from all over the country came to Moscow to compete, drawing a crowd of over 25,000 fans to Central Moscow Park. The best teams representing 24 cities in Russia battled for the grand prize, a football experience trip to Italy and ultimately a team of boys from Ekaterinburg took home the grand prize.

KFC Russia sponsors the KFC Mini Football Championship, which provides young people from all over the country a chance to participate in a large football event and develop their sport skills. It aims to popularize the sport, encourage a healthy lifestyle and develop amateur sports among teenagers.

The Championship was established in 2012 with 1 city and 700 footballers participating. Over three seasons, it has grown to an international event with players from 25 cities across Russia and Kazakhstan participating in the 2015 season. Many outstanding Russian sportsmen, national football team players and Olympic Champions supported the event, and more than 100 media partners nationwide covered the season driving huge awareness of the program.

The KFC Mini-Football Championship has received numerous accolades, including being recognized as “The Best Corporate Project” by Eventiada Awards and “The Best Project Award” by Sport and Russia 2015.