From April 15 to 17, 2025, something beautiful unfolded at United World Academy (UWA) in Bengaluru. Eighty children gathered for a simple but powerful idea: that football, a game they all love, can stand for something more.

This Bengaluru event was organized by Bengaluru FC Soccer Schools in partnership with the Children’s Football Alliance (CFA). Participants included children from the UWA football program, BFC Soccer Schools and invited players from Green Fields School and the Swayam Foundation in New Delhi, all united by the message of peace. They played, they learned, and they shared stories. No medals, no leagues. Just football – as it was meant to be.

The Peace Field Project was inspired by the Christmas Truce of 1914, when British and German soldiers set down their weapons and played a friendly football match during World War I.

Today, this moment lives on through pitches twinned with the original Flanders Peace Field in Belgium. These spaces are reminders that sport can say what words cannot. They stand for peace, unity, and shared humanity.

Bengaluru’s Peace Pitch is now symbolically twinned with the one in Belgium, linking local children to a global movement.

Looking for football coaching in Bengaluru that goes beyond drills? BFC Soccer Schools offers structured, age-appropriate training led by licensed coaches who focus on both skill and character. With a strong foundation in grassroots development, it’s where young players learn the game and grow with it.

This was the city’s first Peace Pitch event. With support from the Children’s Football Alliance, BFC Soccer Schools helped shape every minute of it.

Mrs. Kavita Sinha, Head of UWA, said, “We are proud to host the Peace Field Project. This is more than football: it is learning, growth and connection.”

UWA’s founder, Mr. Vijayakumar, also highlighted the impact: “When children learn on and off the pitch, they do not just become better players. They become better people.”

Children under 16 from different regions played football for fun, attended workshops, and participated in peace-building activities. Even though they spoke different languages and came from different schools, they understood each other. Football made sure of that.

Coaching Sessions: BFC Soccer Schools coaches ran on-field training sessions focused on fair play, teamwork, and skill-building. For many kids, it was their first time being trained by professionals.

Peace Workshops: Classroom discussions explored football’s role in history, including the Christmas Truce. It made children think differently about the game, as a tool not just for winning, but for listening, sharing, and respecting.

Peace Education with Ernie Brennan: Ernie Brennan, CEO of the Children’s Football Alliance, led a peace education workshop. He said, “Peace Field Projects are connecting the essence of play with diverse communities across the world. There is a passion from everyday people to celebrate peace through play. Games without frontiers.”

Guest Talks: The inspiring para-athlete Devika Malik spoke about how inclusive sport changes lives. Kids heard first-hand how mixed-gender and mixed-ability games bring out the best in everyone. She inspired many by sharing her journey and reminding everyone that football is for all bodies, all minds.

The Big Match: A 15v15 friendly match closed the event. It was not about scoring goals. It was about passing the ball to someone new and trusting them with it. Cheering for someone you just met. Finding joy in playing together.

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Football, the Global Language:You do not need to speak the same tongue to understand a through ball, a celebration, or a handshake after a foul. Football speaks for itself. And during this Peace Field Project, it spoke of peace.

For the kids from BFC Soccer Schools, this was not just another weekend of training. It was about stepping into something bigger, understanding that their game can carry meaning. That their game matters. They can grow in their game.

As the best football academy in India, BFC Soccer Schools does not just train kids to dribble and shoot. It teaches them how to think. How to treat teammates. How to find purpose through play.

At events like the Peace Field Project, that vision becomes real. The classroom sessions, guest talks, and mixed-team games reflect what we stand for: football that includes, uplifts, and unites.

This is grassroots football in its most powerful form. The kind that does not end when the match does.

The Bengaluru Peace Pitch may have lasted only three days, but its echo will last longer. Kids went home not just with new skills, but with new friendships, stories, and a better sense of what sport can be.

Feedback from participants was full of joy, with children expressing how the games, workshops, and new friendships made them feel like they belonged. Many even asked when the next one would be.

There are hopes to host the Global Peace Games next. And if this event showed us anything, it is that Bengaluru is more than ready.

At BFC Soccer Schools, we will keep shaping young lives with every session. Because when children play with purpose, they do not just grow as footballers, they grow as people.

Ready to take the next step? Let’s talk. Your child’s football journey starts here.