June 16 – UEFA and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, will stage the second edition of the Euro Unity Cup June 28-29 in Frankfurt Germany.
The seven-a-side tournament involves more than 170 young people from refugee and host communities and aims to support refugee access to sport and raise the profile and enhance social inclusion.
Through its Football Sustainability Strategy 2030, UEFA promotes the integration of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced individuals within the host communities through football.
Each squad will be composed of eight refugee players and three non-refugee players, including at least two women.
“This is an important opportunity to raise awareness on the power of football in breaking down barriers and creating a spirit of inclusion,” said UEFA.
16 teams will compete, representing Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the European Union.
Each country promotes the initiative using a high profile ambassador from within the game.
Tournament ambassadors:
– Armenia – to be announced soon
– Austria – Nadine Prohaska (former international player)
– Belgium – Mbo Mpenza (former international player)
– Finland – Panu Autio (ex-international futsal player)
– France – to be announced soon
– Germany – Célia Šašić (ex-international player and EURO 2024 ambassador)
– Italy – Marco Tardelli (FIFA World Cup winner)
– Latvia – Emīlija Druviņa (international player)
– Malta – Christian Damiano (ex-international player)
– The Netherlands – Farkhunda Muhtaj (international player) and Rene van Rijswijk (ex- player)
– Northern Ireland – Jimmy Nicholl (ex-international player)
– Republic of Ireland – Jim Crawford (ex-player)
– Spain – Juan Carlos Pedraza (ex-player)
– Switzerland – Dominique Blanc (President of the Swiss FA)
– Ukraine – Anatolii Demianenko (former player and coach)
– European Union – MEP Theodoros Zagorakis, MEP Tomasz Frankowski, MEP Matjaž Nemec
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