The Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) is pleased to partner with Global FCE, an organisation with unique football academy programs in four countries, to provide a month of coaching for the best young player at the forthcoming 2018 Paddy Power World Football Cup.

“We are delighted to bring Global FCE on board as a partner for the World Football Cup, the beginning of what we hope will be a long-term relationship,” said CONIFA Vice President Kristof Wenczel, who arranged the deal. “Global FCE provide fantastic programs for talented young footballers, and we see this partnership as a way reward the best young player at our biggest tournament yet.”

Global FCE (Football Center of Excellence) provide personalised academic and sporting programs for hundreds of young football players each year, across its academies in Spain, Holland, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The organisation has a strong relationship with Spanish La Liga, American MLS, Dutch and Belgium clubs.

“Global FCE is excited to be partnering with CONIFA,” said the organisation’s President, Christiaan Vermeeren. “We share many core values with CONIFA, and cannot wait to witness the high quality of football at the 2018 Paddy Power World Football Cup.”

The winner of the young player award, to be announced during the closing ceremony on Saturday 9 June, will get a month of training and coaching during camps at Global FCE’s academies in Holland and Spain. “The player will get a unique football and life experience,” said Vermeeren. “During the year we will also support him with advice and possible trials at clubs within our network.”

CONIFA is an international football federation for teams outside of FIFA, with members including states, de facto states, regions, minority groups and sports-isolated territories. CONIFA is a non-profit organisation registered in Sweden. The 2018 Paddy Power World Football Cup will be held in London from 31 May to 9 June.

For more information about Global FCE, please visit www.globalfce.com or email chris [at] globalfce [dot] com.

The Confederation of Independent Football Associations (CONIFA) and Sutton United FC are pleased to announced that the Knights Community Stadium (Gander Green Lane) will host games during 2018 Paddy Power World Football Cup in London.

The 5,013-capacity stadium will host six games during the Thursday 31 May to Saturday 9 June event, including two quarter-finals. The tournament will kick off at the Knights Community Stadium at 12pm London time on 31 May with a group A clash between Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) and Cascadia.

At 3pm that afternoon, European champions Padania and African side Matabeleland will clash in group C. Sutton United’s home ground will then host two quarter finals on Tuesday 5 June (3pm and 6pm), and two placement games on Thursday 7 June (12pm and 3pm).

Sutton United is a National League team, the fifth division of English football. In February 2017 they made the last 16 of the FA Cup, only the 9^th non-league side to reach that stage of the competition since 1945. The club is known for its strong community roots, and iconic mascot Jenny the Giraffe.

“Sutton United is pleased to be supporting the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup,” said a club spokesperson. “The tournament brings together teams from across the world to build international understanding and encourage cultural exchange. These are aims we can all get behind.”

Tickets for these games are now on sale via Eventim, the official ticketing provider for the tournament. Eventim sells over 150 million tickets for over 200,000 events annually, including for some of European football’s biggest names: Borussia Dortmund and Ajax.

“The CONIFA World Football Cup is the perfect addition to our growing sports business here in the United Kingdom,” said Dale Ballentine, Director of Development at Eventim UK. “We look forward to working with team on delivering such an exciting event.

Further stadiums will be announced in the coming weeks, with the remainder of tickets to go on sale shortly. All stadiums will be in the greater London area.