At the end of 2023, over 117 million people were forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, violence and human rights violations. Among them, 37.6 million are refugees. UEFA actively supports the inclusion of refugees within their host communities through football programmes and UNHCR also firmly believes in the role that sports and sports organisations can play in improving the lives of forcibly displaced and stateless people.
After the success of the first two editions of the Unity Euro Cup, UEFA and UNHCR are proud to leverage the power of football to strengthen ties between host communities and displaced people once more. This year’s Unity Euro Cup will return to Nyon, Switzerland, on 10 October.
Following the successful first tournament in 2022, UEFA, supported by UNHCR, hosted an expanded second edition last year, in Frankfurt, Germany. In total, 16 teams of refugees and host community members came together to showcase the unique power of sport in bringing diverse communities together.
This year, 16 teams will compete in a total of 33 matches for 2024 Unity Euro Cup. These teams represent the national football associations of Armenia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. Additionally, a team of Ukrainian refugees from across Europe will represent their homeland Ukraine.
The seven-a-side tournament, involving almost 200 young people from refugee and local host communities, will kick off at 08:30 CEST on 10 October at the Colovray Sport Centre in Nyon, Switzerland. The final will be played at 15:00 CEST.
Each team will be composed of eight refugee players and four players from the refugees’ host communities, including at least three women, and a national ambassador will accompany each team. This is an important opportunity to highlight the power of football in breaking down barriers and fostering a spirit of inclusion.
The Unity Euro Cup is open to everyone and free to attend, including spectators.
Panel discussion on “Refugee Inclusion Through Sport”
Following the final, UEFA and UNHCR will host a high-level panel discussion on “Refugee Inclusion Through Sport”. Panellists will include UEFA vice-president Laura McAllister, United Nations high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, UEFA EURO 2024 and Germany ambassador, Célia Šašić, with the conversation moderated by Pedro Pinto. It will be held in English and will take place in the auditorium of UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon from 17:30 to 18:30 CEST.
Strengthening social inclusion through football
As part of the UEFA Football Sustainability Strategy 2030, UEFA actively promotes the integration of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced individuals within the host communities through football. Our sport’s universal language facilitates inclusion and well-being by bringing diverse individuals together, promoting teamwork and providing a platform for physical activity and social interaction.
UNHCR has developed the UNHCR Sport Strategy – More than a Game – which highlights the role sports and sports organisations can play in improving the lives of forcibly displaced and stateless people and in supporting integration with host communities.
The strategy outlines UNHCR’s approach to working with and through the sport world to improve the lives of forcibly displaced and stateless people This includes working with a broad cross-section of partners from both within and outside the sport ecosystem, with the overarching objective of enhancing protection in the areas of social cohesion, inclusion and psycho-social well-being.
Credit: UEFA
