Newcastle University

The world came together at Newcastle University for a football match to celebrate the start of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

International students from across the globe, including Cameroon, Germany, Denmark, Nigeria, France, Spain, Portugal, South Africa,  Italy, Mexico, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, England, Slovenia and USA, played a game in front of the TV cameras.

Silky skills were on display, as well as some tough tackling, but the event was aimed at bringing cultures together and enjoying the beautiful game, rather than a competitive match.

Footage from the game, played at the University’s Longbenton pitch, was broadcast on BBC One's Look North news programme. Afterwards several of the players talked about the match and the World Cup.

Jose Martins, 19, from Lisbon, Portugal, said: “It was good fun, it’s not every day that so many people from around the world get together, there was a really friendly atmosphere.”

Oscar Villareal, 20, from Mexico City, Mexico, said: “This is what the World Cup is all about, people getting together in peace to have a good time."

Dominique Lentchou, 19, from Cameroon, said: “I don’t really play football much at all but I came along today to have some fun. It was a nice experience.”