Astana, Kazakhstan – 14 December 2025 - The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) held the First IOFS Football Tournament in Astana on 14 December 2025 as part of the celebrations marking OIC Food Security Day – IOFS Day, bringing together representatives of diplomatic missions, international organisations, and state institutions based in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Opening the tournament, H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of IOFS, noted that the event reflected the spirit of partnership, teamwork, and unity that underpins the Organization’s mission. He recalled that the IOFS Statute was adopted twelve years ago in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, marking the beginning of collective efforts by OIC Member States to strengthen food security through cooperation and shared responsibility. Ambassador Aryn further underlined that the football tournament forms part of a broader programme commemorating OIC Food Security Day – IOFS Day, alongside events held in Jeddah on 11 December and the upcoming Round Table scheduled for 17 December in Astana.
A total of 13 teams participated in the tournament, representing the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), as well as teams from the Embassies of Türkiye, Arab States, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America.
Following a series of competitive matches, the tournament concluded with the following results:
•1st place: Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS)
•2nd place: Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
•3rd place: Team of the Russian Federation
•4th place: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The IOFS Football Tournament highlighted the role of sports diplomacy in strengthening partnership and cooperation among international and national stakeholders.
IOFS expressed its appreciation to all participating teams for their enthusiasm and contribution to the success of the event.
