The international tournament "Cup of the East" was solemnly opened in Kazan.

      From July 4 to 9, the III International Children's and Youth Football Tournament "Cup of the East" is taking place in Kazan at the "Burevestnik" stadium. This year, the geography of the competition has expanded to seven countries: football players aged 10-11 from Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Belarus are taking to the field. The total number of participants reaches 252 people.

      For the first time, Turkish and Belarusian teams are participating in the tournament. Among the new participants are Ufa's "Dynamo-Moscow," "KAMAZ" from Naberezhnye Chelny, Uzbekistan's Ashurmatov Junior, and the media team Liberty.

      The opening ceremony began with a parade of teams. The participants were welcomed by the president of FC "Rubin," Marat Safiullin. "It is very nice that this tournament is not only an opportunity to showcase your best football qualities and demonstrate fighting spirit, but also to meet, make friends, learn about the culture of another country, and simply become friends," he emphasized.

      Safiullin also reminded that last year the competition took place as part of the international economic forum "Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum," and thanked the leadership of Tatarstan for supporting the project.

      Representatives of the "Rubin" football club and heads of foreign consulates operating in Kazan attended the opening ceremony. Immediately after the official part, the group stage of the tournament began.

      The chairman of the Football Federation of Tatarstan, Alexander Gusev, noted the level of sports infrastructure in the region. "In 36 children's sports schools where there is a football department, indoor football arenas operate. Today, Tatarstan has one of the best football infrastructures in Russia. However, the main thing in this tournament is not only the sports result but also the friendship among the participants," he emphasized.

      The competitions are held in a 7×7 format. All matches are hosted by the "Burevestnik" stadium. Previously, the tournament was held at the "Young Guard" camp, but due to the increase in the number of participants, the organizers decided to move the games to a more spacious venue.

      On the eve of the tournament's start, young footballers and fans attended an open training session of the main squad of "Rubin" under the guidance of head coach Frank Artiga. After the session, the players interacted with the children, signed autographs, and took photos together.

      The general director of FC "Rubin," Alexander Aibatov, noted the increased level of competition. "Compared to the first tournament, the struggle has become significantly more intense and interesting. Such matches help to shape character in children. Victory is especially valuable when it is achieved in real competition," he said.

      According to Aibatov, an important component of the project remains its humanitarian mission. The tournament promotes the development of international ties, cultural exchange, and strengthening friendly relations among young athletes from different countries. He also reported that the organizers had planned an even broader international representation, but a number of teams could not come for reasons beyond the club's control.

      "The tournament has already become traditional and will be held for many more years. The most interesting is yet to come," promised the general director.

      The group stage and playoffs will last until July 8. The final and award ceremony will take place on July 9. There is no prize fund for the tournament. The main focus is on the development of children's and youth football, sports education, and cultural exchange among participants. All teams will receive commemorative souvenirs, and the best players and teams will be awarded medals and special prizes from FC "Rubin."

      Irina Donova

      Photo: www.rubin-kazan.ru