Last week at UEFA headquarters, the third edition of the Unity Euro Cup took place to once again highlight the role of football in overcoming cultural barriers, integrating refugees into host communities, and strengthening ties between people of different backgrounds.

This year, 16 teams made up of refugees and individuals living in host communities participated in the tournament representing the following countries: Armenia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, France, and Switzerland. A team of Ukrainian refugees residing in Germany represented Ukraine.

Photo by Mykhailo Rozov

During the draw, which took place on October 9 at UEFA headquarters, Ukraine was placed in Group C alongside Spain, Greece, and Belgium. After securing third place in their group, our team defeated Malta (3-0) in the match for ninth place overall. Over 200 young male and female players participated in the tournament.

The Unity Euro Cup 2024 winner was Latvia's team. Interestingly, among the champions were refugees from Ukraine who entered the final match with a Ukrainian flag.

Photo by UEFA

Symbolically, our team's ambassador was Hanna Pokus, a coach who found refuge in Switzerland during the war.

"Right now, this is the only opportunity to unite with our brothers and sisters away from home and feel that warmth, some support, as well as experience on the football field and make new friends not just from Ukraine but also from other teams and countries."

"Football has greatly helped us adapt because we found a second home. This is our team. Also, FIFA and UEFA supported us. It really helps. On the pitch there's no language barrier, which is great because football unites people. Football is a universal language that currently brings us together."

Photo by UEFA

"Football has greatly helped me in Germany. I quickly learned German, and now it's easier for me to speak the language. If I hadn't played football, I don't think I would be speaking German right now.

I find it very cool that girls can also play in this tournament. In regular football, all players are men or all players are women. This is a great experience and I think it's fantastic."

Malik Abdul, an 18-year-old goalkeeper who moved to Germany from Kharkiv.

The leader of the Ukrainian team was Yumas Medoff, who has Ukrainian roots and united volunteers in the early days of full-scale war to help Ukrainians. His organization Frankfurt for Ukraine counts around 70 volunteers — Germans with and without Ukrainian heritage, as well as Ukrainians.

Yumas formed a team made up of Ukrainian refugees and Germans who participated in the Unity Euro Cup tournament in 2023 in Frankfurt and this year's mini-tournament organized by the Italian Football Federation.

"It was a very pleasant task to form the team, as we received great support from the Ukrainian Football Association and the Consulate General of Ukraine in Frankfurt, which has an active community," Yumas noted. "Of course, my greatest wish is victory and peace. I hope that after the war ends, Ukraine will find its way to Europe and become part of the European family, a part of the free and democratic world because Ukraine is fighting not just for itself but for all of us, for Europe, for the free world. And I hope that the Western world will support Ukraine and won't leave it alone."

The Unity Euro Cup is one of the most important elements of UEFA's strategy for sustainable development until 2030, which prioritizes integrating refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced persons into host communities through sport.

Photo by Mykhailo Rozov

Speaking about the importance of this event, Michele Uva, UEFA's Director for Social and Environmental Sustainability, noted: "The Unity Euro Cup is not just a game. It is proof of football's unique ability to unite people from different backgrounds. By uniting refugees with host communities, we celebrate beautiful play but also promote inclusion, understanding, and mutual respect. The Unity Euro Cup demonstrates UEFA's commitment to using football as a powerful tool for social integration and positive change."

In analogy with this tournament, the Ukrainian Football Association has been organizing the "Unity Cup of Ukraine" since 2023 in cooperation with UNHCR and the charitable foundation "Rokada." Over two years, this tournament has already united 160 girls and boys from internally displaced persons and local communities, helping them not only to make new friends and play their favorite game but also to escape daily news about war.