UEFA Foundation to give local children unforgettable Conference League final experience
Young people supported by community organisations will take centre stage in Leipzig thanks to the UEFA Foundation for Children.
Alongside the Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans gathering in Leipzig for the UEFA Conference League final, a group of local children will be looking forward to the showpiece with the same sense of anticipation.
The UEFA Foundation for Children has arranged for 50 young people engaged with local charity Spirit of Football and RB Leipzig’s community partners KMV Sachsen gGmbH and Kick Fair to attend the match, while 15 will get to see stars of the final up close during a special meet-and-greet session ahead of the match.
On matchday, three children will walk out onto the pitch with the finalists as referee mascots through competition partner Hankook, giving them the chance to experience one of European football’s biggest occasions from the heart of the action.
And after the final whistle, one lucky participant will accompany UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin onto the pitch and help him hand out the medals during the closing ceremony.
Supporting the local community
Their stadium is hosting this year’s Conference League final, but RB Leipzig also plays an important away from the pitch through a range of community and charitable initiatives, including KMV Sachsen gGmbH and Kick Fair.
Working across the state of Saxony, KMV Sachsen gGmbH provides inpatient and outpatient care for children and youths along with residential support for families, helping beneficiaries overcome various social and personal challenges.
Kick Fair, meanwhile, works across Germany to implement their unique education concept that uses motor, cognitive, and emotional learning to help children develop holistically and find their place in society.
RB Leipzig has also long-standing partnerships with multiple local homelessness charities, offers free match tickets through community festivals, and stages an annual glühwürmchenumzug – a lantern parade at the Leipzig Stadium where all the proceeds are donated to local hospitals and healthcare charities.
That community spirit is also visible on matchdays, when supporters can donate their reusable cup deposits to social projects across the region.
Embodying the Spirit of Football
Non-profit organisation Spirit of Football uses the sport and community projects to promote diversity, respect and teamwork across Germany.
It delivers workshops combining football and cultural activities designed to combat racism and prejudice, working in particular with refugees, migrants, girls and women, people with disabilities and disadvantaged young people.
In the run-up to every FIFA World Cup, Spirit of Football organises for a special ball to make a symbolic journey from the site of the first football match organised under modern rules in London to the opening ceremony – spreading a message of unity and fair play along the way through community events and workshops.
Eleven years of impact – with more to come
Since 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has worked to turn football into a tool for social impact. In its first decade, it supported 765 projects in 156 countries, improving the lives of more than 4.9 million children. Today, 166 initiatives continue to use the power of sport to promote education, health, inclusion and personal development.
As the UEFA Foundation enters its second decade, its mission remains clear: to ensure every child, regardless of circumstance, can dream, grow and find their place through football.