The world’s most-watched sporting event is weeks away. So, with a flair for symbolism, UNHCR has assembled its own starting eleven. Announced on Tuesday, the Gamechanging Team is made up of current professional footballers whose lives were marked by forced displacement, persecution, or war. It will be captained by Alphonso Davies, the Bayern Munich defender and Canada national team skipper, who was born in a Ghanaian refugee camp after his parents fled the conflict in Liberia before resettling in Canada. He is also a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

“This summer marks the biggest World Cup ever. It is an ideal moment for UNHCR’s Gamechanging Team to send a message of hope to fans all over the world,” said Barham Salih, the UNHCR chief. For Davies, the moment carries personal weight: in a world where over 117 million people are forcibly displaced, “we show what is possible when kids find safety and opportunity.”

The squad also includes Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, born in Angola during its civil war, and Antonio Rudiger, whose parents fled conflict in Sierra Leone. The announcement comes ahead of the UN’s official World Football Day on 25 May. To mark it, diplomats and UN staff will compete on a makeshift pitch on the North Lawn of the UN’s Manhattan headquarters, where temperatures are approaching 40 degrees Celsius. Among those expected to play is Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly. For children and young people caught up in displacement, the psychological toll is severe. Football, say advocates, can restore a sense of belonging and support development. “Each team member has overcome adversity to achieve their dreams,” said Salih.

Source: UN News, 19 May 2026