Gazprom and FIFA discuss cooperation in preparing for 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2018 FIFA World Cup
RELEASE
Release
A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, was held today at the Company's headquarters.
The parties addressed bilateral cooperation under the Partnership Agreement. Special emphasis was given to the collaboration in preparing for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, both of which will be held in Russia.
It was also noted that Gazprom played an important role in football development. Specifically, the Company was commended for its ongoing Football for Friendship project.
Background
On September 14, 2013, Gazprom and Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) signed the Partnership Agreement. In accordance with the document, the Company was granted the status of an official FIFA Partner for the competitions to be held in 2015–2018, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Gazprom is also an official partner of the UEFA Champions League. The Company offers support to a whole range of world-famous football clubs, including Russia's Zenit, Germany's Schalke 04 and Serbia's Crvena Zvezda.
The Football for Friendship international children's social project has been implemented by Gazprom for three years within the Gazprom for Children initiative. The project is aimed at developing youth football and fostering tolerance and respect toward different cultures and ethnicities among children from across the world. Football for Friendship has won various national and international awards in the field of public relations and business communications as a unique corporate social responsibility project.