At the 2024 Unity EURO Cup, refugee and host community players team up to achieve a common goal
At the 2024 Unity EURO Cup, refugee and host community players team up to achieve a common goal
The sun was just coming out as players started arriving onto the football pitch near UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. They were young women and men, with vastly different backgrounds, but they had all come for the same purpose.
Players from Belgium and Slovenia teams going head-to-head at the Unity EURO Cup. All teams include a mix of male and female, refugee and host community players.
Mixed teams of refugees and local amateur players representing 16 countries from across Europe, were competing for the 2024 Unity EURO Cup. This was the third edition of the tournament, hosted by UEFA and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with the aim of showcasing the power of sports to break down barriers and bring communities together. For most this was the first time playing abroad as a team.
Among them were Matvii and Tymofii, 20-year-old twins from Ukraine, who had to flee the full-scale war alone in 2022 and found refuge and support in Latvia since. They dream of one day becoming professional football players and are already training in their host country.
Players from the Netherlands team, warming up before the match begins.
“The Unity EURO Cup is very important and a great experience to meet with new players. Football is my job, it's my life. Two weeks ago, I just had an injury, and for two weeks I already missed football. I'm just looking forward to this tournament to enjoy and to play again,” said Tymofii. He had played in the 2023 Unity EURO Cup in Frankfurt and asked his twin brother to join the Latvia team to make it even stronger and enhance their chances of winning this year, as they had arrived in fifth place last year.
“My message for other refugees or young people is that you need to work hard every day, and just put everything in yourself,” Matvii added, highlighting the enthusiasm of his team upon arrival at the 2024 Unity EURO Cup venue: “We saw the ball and we were very happy. It was great to spend time with teammates.”
The twins play for the Latvia team, together with Yevheniia and Vladyslav, a young couple who also fled Ukraine. They met in Latvia after fleeing from Kharkiv and Dnipro, and fell in love, also thanks to football, as Yevheniia explained. “He loved football and was teaching me how to play. It’s our first time at the Unity EURO Cup and I think it’s interesting and fun to get to know people from other countries.” Together with Vladyslav, Yevheniia expressed her hope for everyone to be able to live peacefully in their own country. “I wish that everyone would respect each other, and no one would ever have to leave their homeland.”
Twin brothers Matvii and Tymofii from Ukraine play for the Latvia team. They dream of becoming professional football players one day.
On the sidelines, Fatima, a 22-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, watched the games unfold. She arrived in Florence, Italy, through a humanitarian corridor and plays for the Italy team. She competed at last year’s tournament but was unable to play this time due to an injury. However, she still wants to be present to support her team.
“For me, football is a way of life. Sport allows you to meet many people, to discover other worlds. Even though we are from different countries, skin color, religion, what’s important is that in the end, we are together.” Fatima’s message to fellow refugees is full of hope: “It doesn't matter where you come from, but who you are, what you will do, and to start a path to show everyone that refugees can also contribute to their own future, to their families and to the host countries where they are. Be a good example and never give up, because refugees encounter many problems, but even if our wings are wounded, we are still flying.”
Northern Ireland team members celebrating a goal at Unity EURO Cup.
Among the Belgium team, we find Larisa, an 18-year-old Syrian refugee who was once a professional football player in Damascus before she was forced to flee. “I think the Unity EURO Cup is important for connecting and bringing all the teams together and to get to meet each other on the tournament. For me, football is everything. I can't live without football, it’s healthy and beautiful”. Many of her teammates arrived in Europe as unaccompanied refugee children and are now integrating in the Belgian society. “I have friends on the Belgium team. It's a nice atmosphere,” Larisa added with a smile.
Larisa was a professional football player in Damascus, Syria. She played for the Belgium team at Unity EURO Cup.
It began to rain just as the final match was about to start, but it did nothing to dampen the spirits of the players. Last year’s winners, Finland, were facing off against Latvia. Although the atmosphere was friendly, it was clear that both teams were determined to win.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, presents the Unity EURO Cup trophy to the Latvia team. Spirits remained high despite the rain.
It was a tough game, but in the end, Latvia took home the trophy. It was presented by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, under the pouring rain. The crowd was a jubilant sea of umbrellas and raincoats, the players were wet and tired, but rightfully proud of what they had achieved.
The Latvia team celebrates a well-deserved win at the 2024 Unity EURO Cup. A large part of the team members were refugees from Ukraine.
In the end, everyone was rewarded with a celebration at UEFA’s headquarters overlooking Lake Geneva, where all the players shared a festive meal and stories of the day’s events. Here they could also admire the impressive collection of memorabilia, trophies from historic tournaments and jerseys worn by legendary footballers.
As the sun set over the lake, many were undoubtedly dreaming of what they themselves might one day achieve, but also everything that can be accomplished when people embrace their differences and work together as a team.
Players from the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland teams chatting. There were many opportunities to interact and share experiences on and off the pitch, in between games and after the tournament.
Watch the promo video shown on Eurosport channels and show your support for refugees #UnityEUROCup
