Victorian boys head to Russia for Football for Friendship tournament

Taking place in Moscow from June 8 to 15, ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, F4F is an annual International Children's social program organised by Gazprom, an international company supporting global social projects and setting new standards in relation to social policy.

The aim of the program is to promote essential values embodied by football with the younger generation such as respect for other cultures and nationalities as well as equality.

Luca Durso will represent Australia as a player while Noah Borg will attend as a young journalist, giving the country even more presence ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

They will join other 12-year-old football players and journalists from 211 countries and regions to participate in the 8-day program.

"I am passionate about football and would love to play for the Socceroos one day," Luca said.

"It is a dream to represent Australia and visit Russia to see the World Cup."

Meanwhile, Noah said: "The nine values of the program - friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour - mean a lot to me. It doesn't matter where you come from or what you can do, we are all equal and we should treat everyone the same and with respect."

This opportunity is the result of the terrific ongoing football partnership with Football For Friendship (RUS) and Lengo Football Academy (AUS).

Lengo Football Academy Chairperson Roxanne Strauss is delighted that Australia will be represented at the Football for Friendship in Russia.

"In 2017 a delegation from Lengo Football Academy represented Tanzania at the Football for Friendship program in St Petersburg as part of the Confederations Cup," she said.

"This year Lengo Football Academy are privileged to be partnering with Football for Friendship and the Reagan Milstein Foundation to enable 12 countries to attend the program in Russia that forms part of the World Cup celebrations. Through these partnerships we are proud to be supporting young people from all over the world to score goals on and off the football field."

With FFV