The 10th Anniversary Football and Music Festival “Art Football 2025,” taking place on June 7–15 in Moscow, has come to an end. On the last day, the Russian national artists team (Starko) has lost a consolation match to Peru with 4-3, eventually arriving tenth place out of sixteen. Yuri Davydov, main tournament organiser and Zodchie (eng. Architects) rock group leader, comments: “You can’t be winning world champion on a yearly basis. It’s not polite after all.” This year Argentinian artists team has taken gold (doing the same with the concert programme by winning the Best Group nomination), meanwhile silver in football has gone to Hungary, and bronze to Serbia.
Apart from battles fought on the football field, as per tradition, every evening concert programmes have been performed and evaluated by an international jury at the Izmailovo Concert Hall. After Valeriy Syutkin, Honoured Artist of Russia, has given a solo performance, and each country presented its best musical items during the “World Team,” Viktor Gusev—sports commentator and host of the evening—has announced the results to the full house (even aisles were packed). Russia has performed well taking gold for Best Song and silver for Best Singer.
Peru has won bronze for Best DJ and silver for Best Original Performance. Turkish team has come in second in Best DJ and first in Best Concert Programme. Best DJ gold has gone to Serbia, in addition to the third place in football. South Korea has not gone unnoticed in music as well, taking bronze for Best Original Performance (Viktor Tsoi’s “Blood Type” has been sung in Russian among other things), and third place in the Best Concert Programme nomination. Georgian national team has taken home gold in Best Original Programme and bronze in Best Singer. Azerbaijan has claimed bronze for Best Instrumental Composition. In the same category Kazakhstani national team has come in second, while Paraguay has been awarded gold. In the Best Band the third place has gone to Belarus, the second to Japan. The Japanese have won another silver for Best Programme. Hungarian concert programme has also gained awards. Kállay Saunders Band, Hungarian headliner, has won the audience over with true rock-and-roll drive, thus, winning bronze for Best Song, for which Iran has got silver.
Kyrgyzstan has become an absolute music champion taking Grand Prix and Best Singer gold. In the final concert Kyrgyz singer Doniiar Dolotbakov has performed the “Russian field” stealing the show once more. The evening has ended with everyone singing “Moscow Nights”: lyrics of the Soviet hit have been handed out to artists and football players, so that participants and audience could join in a choir.
Peru has won bronze for Best DJ and silver for Best Original Performance. Turkish team has come in second in Best DJ and first in Best Concert Programme. Best DJ gold has gone to Serbia, in addition to the third place in football. South Korea has not gone unnoticed in music as well, taking bronze for Best Original Performance (Viktor Tsoi’s “Blood Type” has been sung in Russian among other things), and third place in the Best Concert Programme nomination. Georgian national team has taken home gold in Best Original Programme and bronze in Best Singer. Azerbaijan has claimed bronze for Best Instrumental Composition. In the same category Kazakhstani national team has come in second, while Paraguay has been awarded gold. In the Best Band the third place has gone to Belarus, the second to Japan. The Japanese have won another silver for Best Programme. Hungarian concert programme has also gained awards. Kállay Saunders Band, Hungarian headliner, has won the audience over with true rock-and-roll drive, thus, winning bronze for Best Song, for which Iran has got silver.
Kyrgyzstan has become an absolute music champion taking Grand Prix and Best Singer gold. In the final concert Kyrgyz singer Doniiar Dolotbakov has performed the “Russian field” stealing the show once more. The evening has ended with everyone singing “Moscow Nights”: lyrics of the Soviet hit have been handed out to artists and football players, so that participants and audience could join in a choir.
Football awards have been distributed the following way:
Best goalkeeper—László Such (Hungary),
Best player—Mariano Sapetti (Argentine),
Best forward—Abil Baigaziev (Kyrgyzstan),
Best striker—Ba Yunriol (South Korea),
Best midfielder—Mikhail Kolbenev (Belarus),
Best defender—Ansat Dildabay (Kazakhstan).
Everyone has celebrated deep into the night. The next morning Yuri Davydov has received a heartfelt letter from a member of Inter—Adi Koren, Israeli graphic designer, who has come to the Festival multiple times over the years.
The message says, “Sometimes in life words seem too small against the vastness of generosity, love and vision that you bring into this world. The Art-Football festival is more than just an event. It is a dream that you have brought to life. It a bridge connecting cultures and hearts, art and football, but, most importantly, people. All of this is thanks to you, your huge heart, and unbeatable spirit, because you believe that the path of love, creativity and football can unite peoples and souls, as well as give us hope for the future. I am grateful to you for this opportunity, for embrace, for paving the way for us all. Let it thrive for many years in the name of culture, fellowship and good faith.”
Yuri Davydov has given every assurance that next year international “Art-Football” festival will definitely happen with an even greater number of participating teams.
The Eurasian Dialogue magazine was the Festival’s information partner this year.
Best goalkeeper—László Such (Hungary),
Best player—Mariano Sapetti (Argentine),
Best forward—Abil Baigaziev (Kyrgyzstan),
Best striker—Ba Yunriol (South Korea),
Best midfielder—Mikhail Kolbenev (Belarus),
Best defender—Ansat Dildabay (Kazakhstan).
Everyone has celebrated deep into the night. The next morning Yuri Davydov has received a heartfelt letter from a member of Inter—Adi Koren, Israeli graphic designer, who has come to the Festival multiple times over the years.
The message says, “Sometimes in life words seem too small against the vastness of generosity, love and vision that you bring into this world. The Art-Football festival is more than just an event. It is a dream that you have brought to life. It a bridge connecting cultures and hearts, art and football, but, most importantly, people. All of this is thanks to you, your huge heart, and unbeatable spirit, because you believe that the path of love, creativity and football can unite peoples and souls, as well as give us hope for the future. I am grateful to you for this opportunity, for embrace, for paving the way for us all. Let it thrive for many years in the name of culture, fellowship and good faith.”
Yuri Davydov has given every assurance that next year international “Art-Football” festival will definitely happen with an even greater number of participating teams.
The Eurasian Dialogue magazine was the Festival’s information partner this year.