Twenty-two teams, one common language: Latvia wins the refugee Unity EURO Cup

The fifth Unity EURO Cup took place at Italy’s national football centre in Coverciano, with refugees playing alongside members of host communities. UEFA published the results on 16 October: a record 22 teams competed, four more than in 2025.

Latvia beat the Republic of Ireland 2–1 in the final. The mixed-gender matches were played seven a side. UEFA and UNHCR present the tournament as a way for people displaced from their homes to build connections and a sense of belonging in a new place.

Beyond the score

Winning matters to players, but the social outcome is harder to measure: do participants gain lasting teams, friends and opportunities in their towns afterwards? Unity EURO Cup cannot solve housing or legal-status problems. It does show how regular sport can offer a practical route into a local community.

Source: UEFA.