This one-off 90 minute TV special, David Beckham: For the Love of the Game follows the footballing legend as he sets himself the challenge of a lifetime: to play football on all seven continents of the world – including the first ever game played in Antarctica.
Premiering on UKTV in January 2016, the special showcases the incredible global appeal of football, joining local communities from all walks of life who play the beautiful game in some of the most challenging, remote and extreme locations on the planet.
Jointly commissioned by the BBC and BBC Worldwide, the special sees David travel to 11 countries in 13 days including to the villages of Papua New Guinea, the foothills of Nepal, the streets of Buenos Aires, the desert plains of Djibouti to the elevated pitches of Miami and frozen wastelands of Antarctica.
The first three games are held in countries for which David is a UNICEF ambassador, he plays with two different tribes in the jungles of Papua New Guinea; children from an earthquake damaged school in Nepal and footballers from three different African countries who live in a refugee camp in the middle of Djibouti’s desert.
The next stage sees David fly to Argentina to play with a community youth team from the infamous Boca Juniors deep in urban Buenos Aires. Then, one of the toughest challenges of the trip, a bid to play the first official football match in the surreal and icy landscape of Antarctica.
David Beckham says: “I remember sitting on a plane and discussing this idea with friends and never thinking it would become a reality. I’m genuinely excited now we can realise this ambitious idea. Whether as a player or out in the field for UNICEF and other charitable partners, I have seen the transformational effect that sport and in particular football has on people’s lives. This epic journey will allow me to show the positive side of the game I love and shine a light on the passion and selflessness of people that play this sport as a force for good.”
From the arctic wilderness to the heart of Miami, the penultimate game is a night time match at the top of a skyscraper with two University women’s football teams. This is the last game before David returns to Old Trafford for his ‘Match for Children’ played by an all-star line-up including Sir Alex Ferguson as David’s team manager.
Exhausting, exhilarating and logistically demanding, David’s challenge is about both his own and the world’s love of the game.
Tim Christlieb, Director of Channels, BBC Worldwide Australia and New Zealand, said: “We’re thrilled that UKTV can be the first to offer the Australian audience such a unique and inspiring piece of television. David Beckham is one of the most recognisable faces on the planet and this film not only gives incredible access to the man himself, but also shows the power of football to bring people together and provide some much needed relief to kids in some desperate situations.”
