Game4Ukraine: Football to Play Important Role in Support of Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine continues its destructive course, two famous Ukrainian footballers have been prompted to use their celebrity to support their fellow countrymen. Oleksandr Zinchenko, a current Ukrainian International and UK Premier League player, and legendary Ukrainian soccer star Andriy Shevchenko are both international ambassadors for Ukrainian President Zelensky’s UNITED 24 charity.

The two visited Ukraine at the beginning of June, where they met the President and put forward their idea to hold a charity football match that will raise funds to help rebuild the Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky Lyceum in the Chernihiv region, which was destroyed by Russian missiles in April 2022.

President Zelensky, Shevchenko and Zinchenko announce the Game4Ukraine

Photo: Game4Ukraine website

 They are calling this the Game4Ukraine, it will be held on Aug. 5 at the Stamford Bridge stadium, the home of the UK Premier League team, Chelsea, for whom Shevchenko played toward the end of his career.

After meeting the two team captains, President Zelensky commented: “I support the initiative of Andriy Shevchenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko to hold a charity match in London. The Game4Ukraine at Stamford Bridge is an opportunity for the football community all over the world to unite, show solidarity, help Ukraine, help our children return to their school desks, and also attract the attention of the entire world community to the war once more.”

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The two teams will be made up of current and former players as well as icons from the world of TV, sport, film and music. While not all names have been released it is known that Zinchenko’s team will be “coached” by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who will be joined by David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand, former stars of the English Premier League and former England women’s international footballer, now TV presenter, Alex Scott.

Tickets can be purchased on the Game4Ukraine website and for those who are unable to attend there is a chance to purchase raffle tickets to win each one of the match day shirts signed by the participants.