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This long-term Argentina–India collaboration aims to integrate with local communities and create spaces where every child can enjoy and celebrate the game
Pune, 26 November 2025 – Federal Card Services (FCS), a global leader in premium metal and sustainable payment solutions, today announced the formal establishment of its MATE Foundation in India, a social impact initiative envisioned and established by Matías Gainza Eurnekian (Partner & CEO) and Cristian Calandria (Partner & Chairman of the Board) of Federal Card Services. Rooted in their shared passion for football and their belief in its power to uplift communities, the MATE Foundation marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to support underserved students through structured football training. The founders aim to build an inclusive, accessible, and professionally run academy ecosystem that nurtures physical fitness, discipline, and gender equality in sport.
The Foundation has officially commenced its India journey with its first football-led engagement for students from Zilla Parishad Primary School (ZPPS). Children from Class 3 to Class 5 participated in drills, basic coaching, and a friendly match designed to introduce them to structured play. The event was inaugurated by the Founders of the MATE Foundation, including Matias Gainza Eurnekian and Cristian Calandria, along with the school principal and key faculty members. Of the total 71 participants, 39 were boys and 32 were girls, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to gender-balanced participation from the very beginning.
As part of its expansion roadmap, the MATE Foundation aims to partner with government and rural schools in the coming year. Through this growing network of schools, the foundation seeks to create a strong community programme where both boys and girls can participate equally, develop confidence, and discover potential career paths in football as the programme matures. Every participating child will be inducted as a formal member of the MATE Foundation and will receive structured training, guidance, and support as they grow through the programme.
Matías Gainza Eurnekian, Founder, MATE Foundation, said: “Argentina lives and breathes football, and we have experienced firsthand how the sport can transform lives. With the MATE Foundation, we want to bring that same energy, passion, and belief to children in India who might never have imagined a path in sport. It’s our way of giving back to a community that has embraced us with such warmth and generosity. We are committed to building an academy model that grows every year and creates real, lasting change in the communities we serve.”
Cristian Calandria, Founder, MATE Foundation, added, “Football belongs to everyone. Every child has the right to step onto the field with confidence, dignity, and equal chances to shine and to take those lessons of discipline, equality, and self-belief into all areas of their life. With the MATE Foundation in India, we want to ensure that boys and girls from underserved communities experience football not just as a sport, but as a pathway to opportunity, empowerment, and lifelong growth.”
Through this initiative, students will receive:
- Weekly training by qualified coaches
- Jerseys, sports kits, football equipment, and essential gear
- Access to safe, supervised training grounds
- A structured development pathway encouraging discipline, teamwork, and leadership
- Strength and fitness routines aimed at holistic physical development
This event marks the first step in a multi-stage plan to develop a full-fledged football academy in Pune, supported by trained coaches, dedicated facilities, and long-term partnerships with the education ecosystem.
With football being deeply rooted in Argentina’s national identity and admired worldwide, the foundation brings this passion and expertise to India with a singular purpose: to help children irrespective of gender or background to receive world-class early exposure to the sport and the values it embodies.
