The Brazilian squad for the "Champions Night" charity match will include several 1994 World Cup Champions such as goalkeeper Taffarel, defenders Jorginho and Aldair, midfielders Dunga, Paulo Sergio and Leonardo, and striker Bebeto. Also participating are players from Brazil's 1990 and 1998 World Cup teams. The German squad has not yet been confirmed but will include several 1990 World Cup Champions and 1996 European Champions such as Juergen Klinsmann and Lothar Matthaeus.
The Brazilians are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their 1994 World Cup triumph with five football matches, of which one will be played in Europe. Several Brazilian football stars such as Jorginho, Taffarel, Dunga, Leonardo and Bebeto have been engaged in charity work for disadvantaged children for many years. All football stars at the "Champions Night" charity football match will be participating free-of-charge and all proceeds from the match will go to the "6 Villages for 2006" campaign.
The "Champions Night" charity football match is the first fundraising event for the "6 Villages for 2006" campaign, which was jointly launched by SOS Children's Villages and FIFA. The "6 Villages for 2006" campaign will run until the end of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, with the objective of collecting donations for the construction of six new SOS Children's Villages on different continents in Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Ukraine and Vietnam. These villages will give hundreds of orphaned, abandoned and destitute children a home and a family.
The charity football match on 6 September 2004 will be played at the newly-constructed stadium in Leipzig. Two days later, the current national squads of Germany and Brazil will be meeting for an international friendly match at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
Tickets for the "Champions Night" charity match are available from 5.50 Euros at ticket sales offices in and around Leipzig and can also be obtained via the Internet (
www.arena-ticket.com).
The Brazilian Squad: Taffarel, Gilmar, Jorginho, Rocha, Macio Santos, Aldair, Leonardo, Bebeto, Dunga, Muller, Paulo Sergio (all 1994 World Cup Champions), Silas (1986 and 1990 World Cup participant), Bismark (1990 World Cup participant), Goncalves (1998 World Cup participant), Ronaldáo (1994 World Cup Champion). Coach: Branco (1994 World Cup Champion).