A football tournament took place in Kyiv on World Refugee Day, involving children of internally displaced persons, orphans, and seekers of protection

On June 20 in Kyiv, a children's football tournament dedicated to World Refugee Day was held at the NTK named after Victor Bannikov.

A football tournament took place in Kyiv on World Refugee Day, involving children of internally displaced persons, orphans, and seekers of protection

Photo of Andriy Grabovskyy

The competition was organized by the Ukrainian Football Association in collaboration with the charitable foundation "Rockade" and the UNHCR office in Ukraine. Eight teams, composed of children who are refugees, internally displaced persons, or have lost parental care, participated: "Madridosiki", "Cool as Real", "Epicenter for Children", "Galactic", Los MiniGalacticos, "White Lightning Bolts", "Real Madrid" and Real Kids United.

Photo by Andriy Grabovskyy

The opening ceremony was attended by the project coordinator of the "Rockade" foundation, Dmytro Petrosyuk, the manager of the Football Development Department at the Ukrainian Football Association, Mariyan Yaskevych, the regional coordinator of the "Crimea SOS" foundation, Natalia Redko, and the regional coordinator of the "Right to Protection" foundation, Dmytro Ivanov.

The tournament was held in the following format: participants first played in two groups with four teams each, followed by a match for third place and a final based on the group stage results.

Photo by Andriy Grabovskyy

Semifinal for 3rd Place

"Madridosiki" — Los MiniGalacticos — 10:2

Final

"White Lightning Bolts" — "Cool as Real" — 5:2

Photo by Andriy Grabovskyy

After the tournament concluded, there was an award ceremony for winners and laureates. Participants received medals, trophies, gifts, and sports equipment. The General Secretary of the Ukrainian Football Association, Igor Gryshchenko, addressed those present:

"Thank you to everyone who participated in this tournament! It is very pleasant to be involved in organizing such events because we all understand that football has a unique power. When we step onto the field, we forget about the challenges and difficulties of everyday life.

Each one of you is a hero; each one is already a winner for participating in today's tournament. We are always happy to see you on our football pitches, with the ball, playing.

Enjoy football, engage in sports, lead an active lifestyle — and you will always move forward with your head held high, with positivity and good health.

Glory to Ukraine! We wish you the swiftest victory and new successes!"

Photo by Andriy Grabovskyy

Individual Awards:

best goalkeeper — Dmytro Horban;

best defender — Danylo Volchenko;

best half-back — Illia Andronov;

best forward — Oleksandr Gurskyi;

best player — Viktoriya Bedrinets.

The tournament became part of integration initiatives aimed at supporting children affected by the war and promoting their social adaptation through football.