Relaunch of Football for Unity 2.0: An integration project accompanies the European Football Championship

The UEFA Foundation for Children has announced the relaunch of the Football for Unity 2.0 project, which promotes the integration of young refugees, migrants and vulnerable young people in Europe. The project, which was launched on 1 September 2023 and runs until 31 August 2025, covers several countries, including Germany, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Spain. With a total budget of EUR 833.223 and funding of EUR 83.322 by the UEFA Foundation, it aims to promote access to sport and social inclusion.

‘Football for Unity 2.0’ is a continuation of the successful 2020 project launched under UEFA EURO 2020. The new edition also includes activities outside the European Championship and has been facilitated by cooperation between the European Commission (DG HOME), UEFA, the UEFA Foundation for Children and Common Goal.

Project Objectives and Activities

The main objective of Football for Unity 2.0 is to raise awareness of integration through sport and to combat discriminatory behaviour. Specific measures include:

Development and implementation of the ‘Switch the Pitch’ online curriculum: This curriculum will be available in German and English and will be addressed to 60 coaches in Germany, Austria, Latvia, Italy and Spain. Coaches will be trained in inclusive coaching methods and anti-discrimination. 
Training programmes: Training for European grassroots football organisations, NGOs and national football federations will be provided to increase knowledge of anti-racist methods and disseminate them at European level. 
Sport-based integration sessions: Integration sessions are organised in seven EU Member States to promote trust and understanding between young refugees/migrants and young people from host communities. 
Outreach: Various measures will raise awareness among the European public about the diversity and the positive impact of integration.

Key partners and supporters

The project is supported by a variety of partners, including the European Commission, Common Goal and various national football associations and organisations. In Germany, Fortuna Düsseldorf plays a central role in the implementation and training of the “Switch the Pitch” programme.

UEFA EURO 2024 activities

A special focus of Football for Unity 2.0 is on activities related to UEFA EURO 2 024 in Germany. Building on the success of the first initiative during EURO 2020, actions under this framework will be expanded and intensified. This provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the inclusive power of sport and to promote social cohesion.

Euro 2024 as a platform

The 2024 European Championship will provide an important platform to maximise the visibility and impact of the project. The purpose of the tournament is to promote the social, emotional and physical well-being of young refugees and migrants and to raise awareness of the inclusive power of sport.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin stressed the importance of integration and inclusion: “Integration and inclusion are key to building a diverse and harmonious society in which everyone is valued. We are proud to relaunch Football for Unity and thank the European Commission, Common Goal and the project partners. I look forward to the successful implementation of the project, especially during EURO 2024, where we are planning concrete measures to promote inclusion and integration across Europe.”

Strategic cooperation and support

The project will be developed at strategic and technical level in cooperation with the European Commission and implemented by the UEFA Foundation for Children in partnership with Common Goal. It is financed by the European Union through the Asylum and Migration Fund.

Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission, stressed the importance of this cooperation: “We value the strong cooperation with UEFA to promote social change and European values through football. Projects such as Football for Unity can make an important contribution to the EU’s objectives of improving the integration of young migrants and refugees in communities across Europe.”

Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs, stressed the added value of sport for integration: “Sport brings people closer together. The common passion for football can show that locals and migrants have more commonalities than they thought. This project will provide important work with grassroots organisations to integrate migrants into our society.”