Vietnamese kids on June 30 joined other children from around the world in a special three-half football tournament – the main activities of the "Football for Hope” festival which is an official event of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia.

Vietnam's Ha Danh Du (in blue) at a match within
the "Football for Hope” festival (Source: VNA)
The matches, held at Football Park on Red Square, have no refugees
and no gender discrimination, with the game’s rules decided by participating
kids and results based on not only goals but also players’ behaviours.
FIFA's Head of Sustainability & Diversity Federico Addiechi said that the
event offers a chance for FIFA to promote the strength of the sport.
Vietnam is selected to the event as it has successfully carried out a community
football programme.
Le Quang Dao, head of the Vietnamese delegation, said that the delegation’s
mission is to promote Vietnam’s culture and spread a message that the mission
of football is a tool to develop and solve social issues.
On July 1, Vietnamese kids are scheduled to watch a match between host Russia
and Spain at Luzhniki stadium.
The four Vietnamese children, including two boys and two girls, were chosen
from the Xuan Phu welfare centre for disadvantaged children and orphans.
Forty-eight participating delegations are joining collective activities,
including touring Moscow city and watching World Cup football matches in the
round of eight at Luzhniki stadium.
The Football for Hope” festival will run from June 27 to July 3, featuring
cultural exchanges, football training and sightseeing tours.
Source: VNA
In recent years, Lac Thuy district has paid increasing attention to investing in cultural and sports infrastructure. These grassroots facilities have attracted a large number of residents to participate in recreational and cultural activities, physical training, and community engagement, contributing to the development of cultural life and the local socio-economic growth.
In recent years, the mass physical training and sports (PTS) movement in Hoa Binh province has developed strongly and spread widely. Regardless of age, gender or occupation, people actively participate in physical training, creating a vibrant and enthusiastic sports atmosphere within the community.
Recently, Hoa Binh’s athletes have continued to show strong performances at national-level competitions. Alongside elite athletes, several standout performers have emerged from grassroots sports movements, underlining the province’s growing sports culture.
From April 26 to 27, at the Provincial Sports Arena, the Hoa Binh Provincial Karate Federation organized the 2025 Hoa Binh Open ASUDO Karate Championship.
While modern sports like volleyball and football continue to grow in popularity, traditional folk games and ethnic sports remain a vibrant and essential part of cultural life among the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
A total of 85 young players from across Hoa Binh province recently participated in the provincial Youth Table Tennis Tournament. Organised by the provincial Centre for Youth Activities, the event was part of activities to celebrate the 94th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26, 1931 – 2025) and the 79th anniversary of Vietnam Sports Day (March 27, 1946 – 2025).