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At the end of a memorable day marked by a spirit of sportsmanship and inclusion, Finland triumphed 2-1 over the Republic of Ireland in the final of the 2023 UNITY EURO CUP.
This year’s UNITY EURO CUP once again lived up to its promise of inclusion and empowerment for the 16 national teams involved, bringing together male and female refugees and local players from the participating European nations.
This unique tournament, staged in Frankfurt, Germany, gave the players the opportunity to represent their host country, or the European Union in the case of Team EU, in an international competition.
On and off the pitch, the 2023 UNITY EURO CUP highlighted the role that football can play in strengthening ties between host communities and refugees, breaking down barriers and creating a spirit of inclusion through the universal language of sport.
Football can also help in changing negative perceptions and attitudes towards displaced people, helping them to feel included and integrate into their adopted communities. The UNITY EURO CUP also outlines the power of football when it comes to building a better future for refugees around the world.
Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA President, said, “Football is a unifying force in a world burdened by barriers. This tournament beautifully exemplifies our sport’s profound impact on people’s lives and promotes the values that UNHCR and UEFA stand for. Starting in unfamiliar surroundings is often challenging, but football can act as a powerful catalyst for integration and connection. It fosters understanding and unlocks opportunities for structured engagements and experiences that can genuinely affect our communities.”
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.
UNHCR has developed the UNHCR Sport Strategy – More than a Game – which outlines the role that sports and sports organisations can play in improving the lives of displaced and stateless people and in supporting integration with host communities.
Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said, “This tournament is a great example of how sport can unite individuals and communities, break down cultural barriers and empower people. Providing people whose lives have been severely affected by war, conflict, discrimination or persecution with opportunities to engage in sport can help them heal, strengthen their skills – or help develop new ones – and feel included. We can see it in our everyday work with refugees, and I could see it again today.”
Former international referee, Felix Brych, who took charge of the 2017 UEFA Champions League final, officiated the tournament’s final at the DFB Campus in Frankfurt. Each team was also supported by an eminent ambassador, with local fans and teams invited to watch the group stage on the premises of SC Weiss-Blau, a local Frankfurt club.
“The UNITY EURO CUP connects people and nations and creates a positive atmosphere even in difficult times. On the pitch, everyone is equal, and everyone plays by the same rules,” Brych said. “Being a part of this tournament means a lot to me, it was a great honour.”
As the trophy was handed over to celebrations from Finland, team captain Hassan Yaghoubi said: “It’s a special tournament, it’s an amazing opportunity for everyone here to come together, to meet each other and I hope this will continue every year. Football is, in my opinion, the best sport in the world. To see all these people together, enjoying themselves and laughing, it is what life is all about.”
This year’s edition of the tournament included 16 teams – twice the number of the first edition held in 2022 in Switzerland – with players representing Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and an EU team.
