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June 24, 2022
On June 29 the first ever ‘Unity Euro Cup’ will take place in Nyon, Switzerland organized by UEFA as part of its partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. The tournament aims to help refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons in Europe stay physically and mentally healthy. Refugee support is one of UEFA’s human rights policies under its new “Strength Through Unity” sustainability strategy.
Mixed refugee teams – 70% refugees/30% non-refugee – from Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Malta, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland will convene at Colovray Stadium for a friendly competition to demonstrate and celebrate how football can “strengthen ties between host communities and displaced people, break down barriers and create a spirit of inclusion.”
Each team will also be accompanied by a football ambassador, who include former players Demetrio Albertini, Marc Janko, Mbo Mpenza, Laura Georges, Christian Damiano, and coaches Stephen Kenny and Murat Yakin. Football legends, Germany’s Nadine Kessler and Brazil’s Maxwell Scherrer, featured in a special live broadcast to the participating teams.
The tournament annoucement came on Monday’s World Refugee Day, where UEFA also announced the winners of its 2021/22 Football and Refugee Grant scheme. The grant scheme has been operational since 2017 and provides funding for refugee-related projects organized and operated by European football associations. This year, applications and proposals ranged from offering playing opportunities, vocational training, supporting refugee health and wellbeing, access to labor market and projects focused specifically on female refugees and displaced people.
The 11 winners include: The Football Federation of Armenia, The Royal Belgian Football Association, The Croatian Football Federation, The Football Association (England), The Football Association of Finland, The Football Association of Iceland, The Italian Football Federation, The Malta Football Association, The Football Association of Moldova, The Irish Football Association (Northern Ireland) and The Romanian Football Federation.
Seeking safety is a human right and we know that sport can help. Learn more about the Sport Together Fund delivered by Beyond Sport in partnership with UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and how you can support.
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