A team of star footballers with personal refugee experiences was announced by UNHCR on Tuesday, just weeks before the FIFA Men’s World Cup. The Gamechanging Team highlights the potential of displaced people when given safety and opportunity.
The squad includes current professionals from across the globe, whose lives were shaped by forced displacement, persecution, or war. UNHCR chief Barham Salih said the timing is ideal to send a message of hope to fans worldwide.
Captain Alphonso Davies, a Bayern Munich player and Canada national team leader, was born a refugee in Ghana after his parents fled Liberia. Now a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Davies stressed the importance of showing what refugees can achieve.
Other notable players include Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, born in Angola during civil war, and Antonio Rüdiger, whose parents fled Sierra Leone. Rüdiger stated, "Every child deserves the chance to grow, to dream and to succeed."
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized football’s power to heal and bring hope. The announcement coincides with UN World Football Day on May 25.
A special tournament will be held on the UN’s North Lawn in New York, with diplomats and staff competing under regional groups.