WORLD CUP 2023

After the parade there was an emotional moment where Marco Cillepi welcomed all the teams and the supporters.

In this moment, as a harmonious unity, the players gathered in a crescent moon formation at the heart of the field, eagerly attentive as they listened to the inspiring words of Marco Cillepi, along with Lukasz Kohut (Member of the European Parliament) who shared his motivational messages. The atmosphere brimmed with excitement and determination, setting the tone for an extraordinary event. 

Together with Marco and Lukasz were also present  Sławomir Witek (Head of Education and Sport Department  – Katowice Town Hall) because in this edition we have been granted the Honorary Patronage of the Mayor of Katowice; Edyta (Marketing Manager of the company Wellcome-home whose stand was cleverly situated between the Katowice International Foundation stand and the audience stand, offering refreshing cold drinks and dedicated support to both volunteers and spectators) and Dominika (Fundacja Innowacja i Wiedza) who held their speech between the emotion and the applause of the audience. 

Following the heartfelt speeches by the speakers, a moment of camaraderie and joy ensued as the football players and volunteers came together to capture the spirit of the occasion with a memorable souvenir photo. This cherished snapshot marked the beginning of the tournament, encapsulating the sense of unity and shared enthusiasm that would define the day’s festivities.

Following the enjoyable photo shoot, the much-awaited tournament commenced, with the football players displaying their skills and determination on the four pitches within the stadium. Each match was set to last for a competitive 20 minutes, creating an electrifying atmosphere as teams vied for victory and spectators cheered on with unbridled enthusiasm. The pulsating energy of the event reverberated throughout the stadium, making it an unforgettable day of sporting excellence.

 Then, at 14.00 the matches started!

The football area was divided in 4 different pitches where all the matches has played at the same time to make the show more exciting.

On the first day of the event, the primary purpose for the teams was to advance to the round of 16. In order to achieve this, teams had to be in the top 4 in groups of 6 teams. Each team in their group engaged in intense competition, playing five football matches, each lasting 20 minutes. We witnessed a fierce struggle between the teams, combined with the passion for football, friendship and the ambition to win.

In the group stages, the Ukraine team emerged as the leader, amassing 13 points, securing the highest score. They were closely followed by Egypt and Yemen, who both earned 12 points. Among the most fiercely contested matches were the 3-3 draw between Sudan and Uzbekistan, as well as the 2-2 draw between Brazil and Tunisia. Despite the teams’ best efforts to secure victory, these matches ended in hard-fought draws.