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Football fever in Gelsenkirchen: Primary school cup inspires 540 children!
The primary school cup took place in Gelsenkirchen on June 16th and 17th, 2025, with over 540 children, great games and activities.
Football fever in Gelsenkirchen: Primary school cup inspires 540 children!
On June 16th and 17th, 2025 it was that time again: The primary school cup attracted a total of around 540 children to the FC Schalke 04 training ground in Gelsenkirchen. Organized by the Schalke Helps! Foundation, the tournament offered the young kickers a platform to demonstrate their skills. The weather was brilliant and the atmosphere was great and the joy of football could be felt everywhere.
The event spanned two days, with numerous students from 29 primary schools competing against each other in separate tournaments for girls and boys. The Barbaraschule had the best cards for the boys. With an impressive 4-1 win against Martin Luther Elementary School, the team secured the title of city champions. Captain Samuel beamed with pride and spoke of his anticipation of the tournament.
Girls on the field
The girls' tournament took place on the following Monday, with 24 teams and over 240 students competing. Here the Astrid Lindgren School won in the final against the primary school in Emscherbruch. Boris Liebing, who is responsible for women's football at Schalke, emphasized not only the excellent weather, but also the injury-free implementation of the cup. He even plans to field more girls' teams next year to further promote enthusiasm for women's football.
- Sieger Team Jungen: Barbaraschule
- Sieger Team Mädchen: Astrid-Lindgren-Schule
But the tournament wasn't just a highlight for the players. Marcus Schultewolter, the school form spokesman for the Gelsenkirchen primary schools, praised the smooth process and the organization as a whole. Natascha SchwenzCelebration from Schalke also helped! emphasized the importance of participation in sports and how important the connection to the region is for the children.
Inclusive tournaments on the rise
But it wasn't just in Gelsenkirchen where children stepped onto the lawn. The DFL Foundation and the DFB Sepp Herberger Foundation are planning an inclusive football tournament series next year under the motto “With football at the heart of society”. The FootballFriends Cups, which take place nationwide, are intended to offer children with and without disabilities the opportunity to play together. For example, there will be a tournament in Cologne on May 10, 2024 that is intended to promote further enthusiasm for football, while attractive events are also planned in other cities. dfl-stiftung.de
These initiatives show how football can build bridges - and the important role it plays for children and young people. Whether in Gelsenkirchen or elsewhere, the joy of the game remains unbroken.