World Heart Federation brings Servette legends and heart health activities to Stade de Genève
Activities will raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and the importance of protecting heart health ahead of World Heart Day
GENEVA, 23 September 2026: Ahead of World Heart Day on 29 September, the World Heart Federation (WHF) will be honoured during the match between Servette FCCF and OL Lyonnes, as part of an evening of heart health activities at the Stade deGenève. The evening will spotlight the WHF and its work and will include a post-game football match featuring François Moubandje and a line-up of Servette legends, helping to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) – the leading cause of death worldwide.
The event, which takes place tonight, will form part of WHF’s global Don’t Miss a Beat campaign, which calls on people to see the signs, protect their hearts and demand systemic action to tackle the disease. CVD is the world’s largest killer, claiming over 20 million lives a year globally, but as much as 80% of these deaths are caused by risk factors that can be prevented or managed.
The post-game football line-up will feature nine professional athletes, including Servette legends François Moubandje, Lionel Pizzinat, Sébastien Müller, Kevin Bua, Geoffrey Tréand, Sebahattin Yoksuzoglu, Jean-Charles Dubois, Musa Araz and hockey player Dave Sutter. They will be joined by children and members of the local community, bringing people of different ages and backgrounds together to raise awareness of heart health.
Beyond the match, heart-health activities will take place throughout the stadium, highlighting warning signs that can go unnoticed and giving supporters the opportunity to learn potentially lifesaving skills. These will include a WHF stand and a gamified CPR activity delivered through a joint effort between UEFA’s CPR training programme and Save a Life. Local hospitals, including Geneva University Hospital (HUG), gyms and other organisations will host stands offering supporters information and practical ways to look after their heart health, including a football corner for children run by Decathlon
A short film shown on the stadium’s giant screen will reinforce the importance of recognising warning signs and acting quickly in a cardiac emergency.
Supporters will also be able to donate to WHF by scanning QR codes displayed on screens throughout the stadium, helping to support its work to improve cardiovascular health around the world.
Borjana Pervan, CEO of the World Heart Federation, commented:
“Football has a unique ability to bring people together, making the Stade de Genève a powerful place to start conversations about heart health. Through this event and partnership with Servette we hope to encourage more people to recognise the warning signs of cardiovascular disease, understand the importance of acting quickly and take steps to protect their hearts.”
The event will be a key part of World Heart Day, which is honoured on the 29th September each year, across more than 100 countries.
Find out more about this year’s event at worldheartday.org or by downloading the app on the App Store or Google Play.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About the World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation (WHF) is an umbrella organisation representing the global cardiovascular community, uniting over 200 scientific, medical, patient, and civil society organisations. Together with its Members, WHF influences policies, shares knowledge and inspires behaviour change to achieve heart health for everyone. For more information, visit www.worldheart.org
Media contacts:
Virginie Gill, Global Campaign Manager, World Heart Federation
virginie.gill@worldheart.org | +41 22 512 0094
Nicolas Wackers, Senior Analyst, Hawthorn Advisors
n.wackers@hawthornadvisors.com | +44 7576 156 935