Published on: 2026-05-19
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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On the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup вManagementand Verovny KomissarUN on refugee affairs (UNHCR) presentedи a symbolic football team: it consists of players whoseI lifeь wasa connecteda with the search for shelter.
The team includes well-known athletes who were forced to leave their homes during childhood due to war and conflicts, but later managed to succeed in world football. The UVKB notes that this initiative is intended to remind of the hopes and opportunities that appear for refugee children when they receive support.
The captain of the symbolic team was the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and captain of the Canadian national team, Alphonso Davies. He was born in a refugee camp in Ghana after his parents left Liberia due to war, and then the family immigrated to Canada. Also joining the team was Antonios Rüdiger, a defender for the German national team, whose parents fled from Sierra Leone.
Many players of the symbolic national team will take part in the upcoming World Cup, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
According to UNHCR data, today there are more than 117 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide, of which nearly 49 million are children. The agency emphasizes that sport can play an important role in the lives of young refugees, contributing to social integration, psychological recovery, and the formation of a sense of belonging to the community.
“For me, it is a great honor to lead the symbolic football team of UVKB—a team of players whose childhood was affected by war and forced displacement. We show what can be achieved when children live in safety and have the opportunity to realize themselves. In such times, I hope that we can give people hope and faith that, no matter how difficult the path is, it can be overcome,” said the captain of the UVKB team, Alphonso Davis.
The initiative is timed toWorld Football Day, which is celebrated on May 25. As part of the UVKB campaign, a short film dedicated to the stories of players and their childhood will also be presented.
“This summer will see the most massive football World Cup in history. This is the perfect moment for the symbolic UNHCR team to convey a message of hope to fans worldwide. Each player has managed to overcome difficulties on the path to their dream and serves as a reminder of what young people who have experienced forced displacement can achieve,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.
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