United through Legends gala match on Friday 27 June in Osaka (Japan) on the eve of the National Day of Monaco at Expo 2025

Logo barbagiuans MCO

The National Day of Monaco at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai will be held on 28 June. The day before, an exceptional sporting event will bring together two legendary teams for a United through Legends gala match.

This football event will pit the Barbagiuans of Monaco against the Japan All Star Team on Friday 27 June 2025 at the Panasonic Stadium Suita in Osaka.

Organised by the President of the Barbagiuans, Louis Ducruet, the prestigious match will take place under the high patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, who attaches particular importance to relations between Monaco and Japan. As a symbol of fraternity and dialogue between nations, sports fully embody the values dear to the Sovereign Prince, who will attend the match.

A star line-up

The Monegasque team will once again bring together prestigious players in international football, including Robert Pirès, Ludovic Giuly, Marcel Desailly, Rivaldo, Clarence Seedorf, Emmanuel Adebayor and Patrice Evra.

The Japan All Star team will feature several iconic figures in Japanese football, including Daisuke Matsui, Shoji Jo, Hisato Sato, Yoshito Okubo and Takayuki Suzuki. Kazuyoshi Miura, Hidetoshi Nakata and Keisuke Honda will also attend.

A popular event for a good cause

The Panasonic Stadium, a modern venue that usually hosts Gamba Osaka J1 League matches, can accommodate up to 40,000 spectators.

Proceeds from the match and the evening event that follows will be donated to Fight Aids Monaco, a non-profit chaired by H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie, who has been involved for many years helping people living with HIV/AIDS. A part of the proceeds will go to several Japanese charities.

The event, a combination of sport, solidarity and culture in the spirit of the world’s fair, is a perfect illustration of the lasting ties between Monaco and Japan.