Unity Euro Cup officially kicks off with forum in Zeist

The Unity Cup is organised in The Netherlands. - Foto: KNVB Media

Today, the Unity EURO Cup was officially launched at the KNVB Campus in Zeist with an inspiring forum. For the first time, this European championship, where Dutch nationals and newcomers with a refugee background form a single team, is taking place in the Netherlands. Several speakers were present during the forum, including Khalida Popal (former captain of Afghanistan and founder of Girl Power) and Glenn Micallef (EU Commissioner for Sport). The tournament draw, which kicks off tomorrow, also took place.

The Unity EURO Cup is an initiative by UEFA and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), in cooperation with the KNVB. The tournament is not only about winning but, above all, about connection. Eighteen European teams will compete in a seven-a-side format. Both men and women share the field, united by a single passion: football.

Opening

We concluded that football, as the world’s largest platform, shouldn’t be used only during those ninety minutes

Around 4:30 PM, the first guests trickled into the Training Center at the KNVB Campus. One by one, they took their seats at the large round tables, chatting, laughing, and networking while waiting for the forum to start. At around 5 PM, KNVB Secretary-General Gijs de Jong and UEFA Executive Director Michele Uva opened the event. De Jong warmly welcomed all participants and highlighted the legacy of the Unity EURO Cup in the Netherlands. "Tournaments like this don’t end with the final whistle; they set things in motion. We are here to connect and listen to each other, and your presence makes that possible. One team will be crowned European champion tomorrow, but let’s celebrate the game and the players and build the legacy that starts today with the Unity EURO Cup."

After De Jong’s opening remarks, Michele Uva shared how the Unity EURO Cup came to life during a lunch at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon. "We concluded that football, as the world’s largest platform, shouldn’t be used only during those ninety minutes. We wanted to create an inclusive competition, which is why we called it ‘Unity.’ UEFA organizes 24 competitions, but for me, this is the most important and beautiful one. It creates a dream for everyone."

Not long after, EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef took the stage. In his keynote, he emphasized how sport can contribute to integration and mutual understanding. "The beauty of football is that it is built on solidarity and inclusion. Above all, football is a universal language. It knows no ethnicity, color, or background. The accessibility of the sport makes it a natural bridge to overcome differences. The Unity EURO Cup is a perfect example. It creates friendships, dialogue, and, above all, respect."

Leadership story and panel discussion

Shortly after the draw, Khalida Popal shared her impressive personal story. Popal is the former captain of the Afghan women’s national football team and released her first book last year, Afghan Lionesses, about the struggle for feminism under the Taliban. She spoke about courage,

opportunities, and how football opened up the world for her after fleeing Afghanistan for Denmark. "Football became my rebellion, my classroom; it taught me to believe, to respect, to trust, and to stand up for those who cannot. Living in exile, where you are seen as a victim or sometimes even a criminal, is difficult. Through football, I found sisterhood, community, a network, self-confidence, and joy. I lost my home, but football became a home for me."

This was followed by a panel discussion on sport as a tool for inclusion, featuring representatives from UNHCR (Philippe Leclerc), COA (Bert de Lange), the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Marjolijn Sonnema), WorldCoaches (Omar Jama), and the KNVB. The panelists responded to questions and shared their ideas, opinions, and experiences.

The draw

Meanwhile, Aron Winter, Khalida Popal, and Timo Reessink conducted the draw for Wednesday’s matches. The eighteen teams are set to compete in 38 matches. The tournament kicks off at 9:00 AM following an opening by Anoush Dastgir, coach of the Netherlands U18 and former Afghanistan national team coach. The final takes place at 5:30 PM and will be officiated by professional referee Serdar Gözübüyük, along with referees from Zeeburgia’s Refugee Referees program. By the end of the day, the winner of the Unity EURO Cup 2025 will be announced.