October 1 – UEFA and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) are teaming up once again for the Unity Euro Cup, a football tournament designed to promote refugee access to sport and foster inclusion within host communities across Europe. This year’s edition will be held on October 10 at the Colovray Sport Centre in Nyon, Switzerland.
The Unity Euro Cup, now in its third edition, will feature 16 teams from across Europe, with nearly 200 players competing in 33 matches. In 2023 the competition was won by Finland in Frankfurt.
Participating teams represent the national football associations of countries like Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland, as well as a team of Ukrainian refugees. Each squad is made up of eight refugee players and four local host community members, with at least three women on each team.
The initiative comes at a time when over 117 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced, including 37.6 million refugees.
The tournament aims to highlight the power of football in bringing people together as part of UEFA’s wider Football Sustainability Strategy 2030, which promotes the inclusion of refugees and displaced individuals through the sport.
Following the tournament, UEFA and UNHCR will host a panel discussion on “Refugee Inclusion Through Sport” at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon. Panellists will include UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister, UN high commissioner for refugees Filippo Grandi, and UEFA EURO 2024 ambassador Célia Šašić who will engage in a discussion exploring the role of sports in improving the lives of refugees and promoting integration.
UNHCR’s ‘More than a Game’ strategy further emphasises the role of sports in enhancing the social, emotional, and psychological well-being of refugees, while also promoting social cohesion in host communities.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1735117596labto1735117596ofdlr1735117596owedi1735117596sni@g1735117596niwe.1735117596yrrah1735117596