Spotlight on two Austrian NGOs changing children’s lives through football

Spotlight on two Austrian NGOs changing children’s lives through football

The 2026 UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg shone a light on the work of two local programmes supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children.

Delivered by Austrian organisations Mentor – Association for Education and Integration and Breaking Grounds respectively, Tore für meine Zukunft (Goals for My Future) and Life Goals use sport to help disadvantaged young people build confidence, develop practical skills and access new opportunities.

Before Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain took to the field at Stadion Salzburg, groups of young people from both programmes enjoyed special meet-and-greets with the players and referees. As kick-off approached, they walked out onto the pitch as player mascots and flag carriers, before taking seats in the stands to watch Paris Saint-Germain claim their second Super Cup in two years.

The night gave the young participants truly memorable experiences while shining a light on the year-round work of the two programmes.

Find out more about the UEFA Foundation's Super Cup activities

 

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Goals for My Future combines football with one-to-one career support

Goals for My Future: Career guidance for youngsters

Goals for My Future is a project organised by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Mentor. It combines football with educational and career guidance for young people in Vienna, where a high proportion of 15–24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training. Many face significant social, educational and personal challenges. 

Alongside regular football training sessions and weekly league matches, participants receive one-to-one support and career mentoring, while other sporting and social activities offer new experiences and opportunities to build relationships. Psychological and social work services are also available according to each participant’s needs. 

Working alongside the Austrian Football Association and the Austrian government’s AusBildung bis 18 (Education Until 18) initiative, the programme helps participants develop the resilience and practical skills needed to progress into education or work. Ninety per cent of participants have continued into education or secured an apprenticeship. 

“Many of the children don’t have parents here in Austria, so we are their family. We see them every day and we work together to solve their problems,” said project manager Herwig Fermüller. 

“Around ten years ago, we found a boy who was only playing football in the park and not going to school. Now he’s studying to be a vet. Seeing the kids grow and develop self-belief is so special.”

Mentor also runs Dynamic Force, an initiative supporting young people who are not in employment, education or training and who face complex psychosocial difficulties. Rather than concentrating on immediate job placement, the programme prioritises long-term personal development and preparation for the future.  

Around ten years ago, we found a boy who was only playing football in the park and not going to school. Now he’s studying to be a vet. Seeing the kids grow and develop self-belief is so special.” 

- Herwig Fermüller, Goals for My Future project manager

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Breaking Grounds' Life Goals programme

Life Goals: Building self confidence

Life Goals – run by NGO Breaking Grounds – also uses sport as a catalyst for social change. It aims to help disadvantaged young people recognise their strengths, develop self-confidence and build meaningful social connections. 

Teachers and sports club staff are trained to implement the programme, through which situations encountered on the football pitch become opportunities to develop skills for everyday life. Sporting activities and guided reflection help participants practise communication, cooperation, perseverance and problem-solving. 

Since 2021, more than 2,700 children have felt the benefits of the Life Goals methodology: 85% of participants report greater self-efficacy and 90% see improvements in their self-confidence. 

“It makes you braver,” said Reyhan, from Vienna, who took part in one of Breaking Grounds’ football programmes and is now training as a dental assistant. “When playing football, I don't just want to have fun, I also want to be successful. I am actually very shy, but not so much anymore.” 

Both Goals for My Future and Life Goals are supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children. Wednesday’s Super Cup will be a memorable moment for the young people involved, but the impact of the two programmes will continue long after the final whistle. 

 

Young people take centre stage at the UEFA Super Cup

Young people take centre stage at the UEFA Super Cup

The UEFA Foundation for Children gave local NGO beneficiaries from vulnerable backgrounds the opportunity to play a central role in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, creating unforgettable experiences through the power of football.

Working with local non-governmental organisations Breaking Grounds and Mentor – Association for Education and Integration, the UEFA Foundation brought children closer to the action when the winners of last season's Champions League and Europa League went head-to-head at Stadion Salzburg.  

The young participants attended the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, met the players and played an important role in the matchday ceremonies. Those from Mentor carried the centre-circle flag during the opening ceremony, with the Breaking Grounds group taking on the role during the closing ceremony. 

A starring role for Ali 

When the final whistle blew in Salzburg, Paris Saint-Germain secured their first silverware of the season with a 2-1 victory. Joining UEFA president and UEFA Foundation for Children chairman Aleksander Čeferin to present the medals was eight-year-old Ali. 

Born in Austria to Somali parents who arrived in the country 15 years ago in search of a better future, Ali has one great passion – football. 

Ali – a Breaking Grounds beneficiary – was excited to experience the Super Cup from the heart of the action. 

Ali joined UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin to hand out medals ©UEFA via Getty Images

Football, friendship and equality 

All the beneficiaries attending the Super Cup had the opportunity to meet the referee Omar Artan, adding another memorable experience to a special occasion. 

For Yusra from Breaking Grounds, the encounter held particular significance. Artan became the first Somali referee to officiate at a major international tournament, and the two share both a Somali heritage and a passion for football. 

Raised in Somalia, Yusra began playing football at an early age despite facing social barriers that discouraged girls from taking part. 

After moving to Austria, Yusra returned to the pitch and now plays football four or five times a week, finding friendship, a sense of belonging and the freedom to be herself. 

"Everyone is equal, and football has shown me that too," she says. 

Her meeting with Artan offered another powerful example of the connections and opportunities football can create, reflecting the UEFA Foundation's commitment to inspiring young people and building memories that last a lifetime. 

Referee Omar Artan met Ali and Yusra ©UEFA via Getty Images

A dream evening in Salzburg 

The UEFA Foundation also joined forces with the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation to organise a special ‘Dream Evening’ for a child facing significant health challenges. 

Since its creation in 2000, the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation has supported underprivileged children, young people affected by illness and vulnerable communities in France and around the world.  

During the Super Cup, Sacha, the child selected for the Dream Evening, experienced the matchday atmosphere from close range, watched the players warm up from pitchside and then enjoyed the game from the stands. 

He also had the opportunity to meet Paris Saint-Germain players in person, transforming a lifelong dream into an unforgettable reality. 

Together, these initiatives ensured the 2026 Super Cup delivered an impact far beyond the pitch, shining a spotlight on the power of football to inspire, include and transform the lives of children around the world.  

 

 

Sport in times of war – a lifeline for children

Sport in times of war – a lifeline for children

Carine N’koué, the UEFA Foundation’s general secretary, reflects on a recent UN Human Rights Council event in Geneva, where athletes and humanitarian organisations provided living proof of how sport can give hope to children affected by war.

Carine N’koué has spent more than a decade working with humanitarian sports programmes in Jordan, in particular the Zaatari Refugee Camp, close to the Syrian border. She has worked for the UEFA Foundation for Children since 2018 and was appointed as its general secretary in 2024. 

 

I've spent a lot of my career on sports pitches that shouldn't exist. Pitches in refugee camps. Pitches marked out on rubble. Pitches next to minefields. And every time, I see the same thing: for an hour, maybe two, the children playing on them stop being refugees, or survivors, or statistics. They just become kids.

To quote Ambassador Miroslav Papa, the Council of Europe's Permanent Observer to the UN: “Sport continues to restore what war tries to destroy.” I believe that completely.

“Sport isn't an escape from reality. It's a structured path back into it.”

- Carine N’koué, UEFA Foundation for Children general secretary

I don't want to pretend this is easy or that the need is small. In Ukraine alone, 3.9 million people are now living with a disability, a number that has climbed sharply since the war began.

Across the Middle East, an entire generation of children has grown up traumatised, displaced, cut off from the spaces and routines that are supposed to define childhood. Sporting infrastructure has been destroyed. Landmines remain a daily threat. The psychological toll of living under bombardment is something I don't think any of us fully reckon with.

So yes, the challenge facing humanitarian sport initiatives is a mountain to climb. But I've watched, again and again, organisations, athletes and ordinary volunteers prove that sport can do something diplomacy sometimes can't: bring people together, restore a sense of self, and slowly begin to heal what war has broken.

Football as a shield and a safe space

For the UEFA Foundation for Children, working with children affected by conflict isn't just part of our mission — it's a founding principle.

It goes back to our very first project, my first job with the Foundation in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, where children arriving from Syria carried the invisible weight of displacement and trauma. That's where I got reminded that a pitch is never just a playing surface. On the pitch, something shifts. They could just be kids.

 

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Children playing football in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan

In Ukraine, that idea has taken on a particularly creative form. In regions contaminated by landmines, coaches from Safe Soccer, an organisation supported by the Foundation, have turned football itself into a safety tool — using play to teach children how to identify and avoid landmines. Football, quite literally, has become their shield.

In Gaza, where the need for psychological and medical support is acute, Sports for Life provides child-friendly spaces — sanctuaries where children can play, find distraction, and process their grief. It's a reminder to them that the world hasn't forgotten them.

In Rwanda, Amputee Junior Football Camps – also funded by the Foundation – offer hope to children who have lost limbs. When they join the Junior Camps, they're surrounded by peers and discover new strength in themselves. For me, that's what this work is really about: restoring dignity and confidence, one match at a time.

 

Learn about the UEFA Foundation’s work with refugees

Sport keeps finding new purpose

Listening to my colleagues speaking at the UN Human Rights Council panel, what struck me most was how the simple act of playing can help in some of the world’s harshest contexts. From the climbing walls of Damascus to the pickleball courts of Ukraine, sport keeps finding new purpose. Where infrastructure has been destroyed, it's often the low-barrier activities that rebuild communities from the ground up. Anna Glotova of the All-Ukrainian Pickleball Federation described how all it takes is a portable net and a flat surface to bring a smile back to people's faces.

“After climbing together, people aren't just refugees anymore — they become partners, even friends.”

- Beat Baggenstos, ClimbAID

Where displacement has fractured identities, Beat Baggenstos, founder of ClimbAID, explained how his organisation’s work across Lebanon, Syria, Greece and beyond shows that shared physical effort strips away political and national labels, leaving only mutual encouragement. After climbing together, he told us, people aren't just refugees anymore — they become partners, even friends. That shift happens by doing something together.

And where conflict has silenced entire nations, a single athletic achievement can offer a rare moment of collective hope. Olympic medallist Marlène Nidecker, speaking for Champions for Peace, put it simply: sport goes beyond medals — it builds a culture of peace and trust, and keeps hope alive.

 

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Carine with the other panellists at the UN Human Rights Council event, 'Sport in the Time of War'

Measuring success by participation

Across every context I've worked in, the pattern repeats itself. Sport creates a neutral space where veterans, displaced families and young people carrying invisible traumas can meet as equals. I've learned not to measure success by performance, but by participation. From taking part, new roles emerge: trainers, referees, community leaders. Sport isn't an escape from reality. It's a structured path back into it.

But I want to be honest — that potential doesn't fulfil itself. The Centre for Sport and Human Rights has rightly reminded us that governing bodies carry a responsibility to protect it. The destruction of athletes' livelihoods, the silencing of sporting communities — these are human rights issues, and our international sports community has to address them. UNHCR sees the same story from another angle. Their global lead on sport, Stephen Reynard, told us that refugees love sport, and that by partnering with the sports ecosystem, we can help give them a better lifeline.

Powerful tool for inclusion

I keep coming back to what I experienced first-hand in Zaatari. Even in the most difficult circumstances, children need space to play.

Sport alone cannot create lasting peace. I know that better than anyone. But it can restore confidence, connection and a sense of belonging — giving children and young people a reason to believe in a brighter future.

Football, to me, is the most powerful tool for inclusion we have.

 

Game with Mum and Dad: Connecting children with their parents in prison

Game with Mum and Dad

In Italy and across Europe, the UEFA Foundation partner uses football to help children maintain their bonds with parents in prison – and to push for wider change to prison systems.

“I like playing with my dad, he's the best of all! Here, there are real goals and we look like champions.”

Five-year-old Michele is one of more than 100,000 children across Italy who regularly visit a parent in prison.

Since 2015, UEFA Foundation for Children partner project Game with Mum and Dad (GWMD) – created by Italian non-profit Bambini Senza Sbarre (Children Without Bars) – has transformed these visits for thousands of families. By providing opportunities for children to play football with their incarcerated parents, the project fosters increased connection through the power of play.

After 574 events across 11 years, GWMD has reached 23,450 people like Michele and his father, giving each a chance to maintain their bonds during difficult times in their lives.

 

Protecting the rights of children

Around the world, it is estimated that there are 22.5 million children with a parent in prison. Not only do these children experience grief and shame, but also stigma and discrimination from their peers, and they are often denied the fundamental right of maintaining a relationship with their incarcerated parent.

Bambini Senza Sbarre has been working for decades to address this issue in Italy, and the GWMD project is playing an important role in this effort.

Rather than meeting across a visiting table, children and their parents come together to play football or other games. It’s a simple idea: playing creates opportunities to laugh, communicate and reconnect. Shared experiences on the pitch lead to conversations, hugs and high-fives, helping strengthen the family bonds that imprisonment often strains.

“I hadn't seen my son so happy with his dad since before he was arrested,” said one mother.

“It’s a special moment,” said another incarcerated father. “We can spend two hours doing something different, playing together.”

Prison shouldn’t just be about punishment, but also an opportunity for a new beginning.”

- Patrizia Delfino, prison director

Changing the system

While the impact on the children and their families was the key driver behind the establishment of GWMD, the project has evolved into a wider effort to make systemic changes to the prison systems across Europe.

Looking beyond providing joyous but occasional moments of connection, the project advocates for more child-friendly, inclusive and open prisons that are better integrated into civil society.

“We’re thrilled to be able to host events like [Game with Mum and Dad], which focus on humanity, parenthood and the value of emotional bonds,” says prison director Patrizia Delfino. “Prison shouldn’t just be about punishment, but also an opportunity for a new beginning.”

 

Supporting families across Europe

Over the past few years, GWMD has expanded to other countries, with 229 projects reaching 5,600 children and 3,900 imprisoned parents across Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and the UK in 2024-25.

Ultimately, Bambini Senza Sbarre aims to take the project into as many prisons as possible, spreading these special moments to families throughout Europe.

“When the visit is over, my son goes home and I start crying,” said one mother. “Today we're staying together and playing.

“I'm happy, everything is different.”

 

World Refugee Day: Supporting displaced children and youth through football

World Refugee Day: Supporting displaced children and youth through football

From Jordan to Ukraine, from Palestine to Germany and Ireland, the UEFA Foundation for Children is using the power of football to restore what conflict often takes away – safety, belonging and the simple right to play.

In the Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan, Syrian children shout, laugh and play football. For a while, the rows of shelters around them fade into the background.

Creating those moments has been at the heart of the UEFA Foundation for Children's work for the past decade. Through football, the Foundation and its partners support children whose lives have been disrupted by war, persecution and displacement, providing safe spaces to play, learn and connect.

Since 2015, the Foundation has supported 765 projects in 156 countries, reaching more than 4.9 million children. Today, 166 active initiatives continue that work. The numbers are striking. But behind each one is a child who simply needed somewhere safe to play.

On World Refugee Day, we shine a spotlight on the inspiring work being carried out across the globe by some of the Foundation's incredible partners and NGOs.

 

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Zaatari, Jordan - A camp becomes a community

Scoring Girls, Germany - A pitch is the classroom

Spirit of Soccer, Ukraine - Football against fear

SARI, Ireland - Building belonging

Sport for Life, Palestine - Starting over

Türkiye and Syria - Changing the rules

South Sudan and Tajikistan - Where football crosses borders

Emergency funding - When crisis comes

The same game, everywhere

What links all of these projects – from Zaatari to Cologne, Dnipro to Tulkarm, and South Sudan to the Tajik border – is something very simple: children playing football.

The settings may be very different, but the experience is often the same – a chance to make friends, learn new skills and enjoy a moment of normality despite conflict, displacement and uncertainty. Those moments may seem small, but their impact can last far beyond the final whistle.

That is why this work matters. On World Refugee Day, we celebrate the organisations, coaches and communities creating those opportunities for children, helping them find joy, healing, resilience and connection through the game.

 

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11 years of impact

Since 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has used football as a tool for positive change.

In its first decade, the UEFA Foundation supported 765 projects in 156 countries, improving the lives of more than 4.9 million children. Today, 166 initiatives continue to use the power of sport to promote education, health, inclusion and personal development, creating safe environments and helping children build confidence and life skills.

 

Spirit of Football: Creating community, building confidence

Spirit of Football: Creating community, building confidence

UEFA Foundation partner harnesses power of football to promote inclusion, create life-changing opportunities and bring joy to disadvantaged people across the world.

One Ball, One World. That’s the philosophy behind non-profit organisation Spirit of Football, which uses the power of the global game to foster diversity, respect and teamwork across Germany, England and Brazil.

By organising football and cultural activities for migrants and refugees, disabled people and people from disadvantaged backgrounds, Spirit of Football works to combat prejudice and provide a community for those who need it.

“Every trip, every excursion is not only a growth in terms of football – they love seeing football – but in terms of learning to spend time with other people,” project coordinator Joaquin Ñáñez explained ahead of the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig, Germany, where the UEFA Foundation gave 50 children supported by Spirit of Football the chance to watch Crystal Palace’s 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano.

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Children from Spirit of Football arriving for the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig

“We were really excited to come with them and see their reaction to this full stadium, with the floodlights, with a lot of expectation and with different people from all around the world.”

Touching on his work with disabled children, Ñáñez explained how people with learning disabilities are relatively well-placed in German society compared with other countries: “Through football, they get a community and a sense of belonging.” Nonetheless, integration into the world of work remains a challenge.

 

“Through football, they get a community and a sense of belonging.”

- Joaquin Ñáñez, Spirit of Football

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The UEFA Foundation support a number of Spirit of Football projects

Creating opportunities for growth

Spirit of Football organises various trips throughout the year, with each excursion providing a learning opportunity and a memory for life.

On a recent trip to the Gothia Cup in Sweden, the largest youth football tournament in the world, they even came away with a trophy, but for Ñáñez, that wasn’t the main accomplishment.

“Some of them travelled abroad on a plane for the first time in their lives and managed to speak in English with other people,” he says. “For us, those are the success stories because they show that they can go beyond the borders that sometimes we, as society, set them.

“Football can bring people together. That sounds like a cliché, but it is a fact. That's what we need in the world of today, more than ever – to open up to other people and new things.”

From hardship to hope: giving children a chance to live the Champions League dream

From hardship to hope: giving children a chance to live the Champions League dream

For a group of children selected by the Second Chance Sports Association, a partner of the UEFA Foundation, this weekend's Champions League final in Budapest is about much more than football.

Before a ball has even been kicked in the Puskás Aréna, 30 Hungarian children will have already lived a moment many could scarcely have imagined: meeting players from Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal on the eve of the biggest match in club football.

For each, it is far more than a special day out. All have grown up facing hardship, instability or exclusion.

"These opportunities are huge. When everything comes together, then all of them will remember a great experience for the rest of their lives,” says Dora Gottgeisl, a social worker and programme coordinator with the Second Chance Sports Association, a UEFA Foundation for Children partner, that invited the children to attend the Champions League Final.

Founded in 2005, Second Chance has spent more than two decades nurturing a sense of belonging, confidence and hope among children and young people from underserved communities, in particular low-income families.

Among the group attending the final are three girls from Second Chance’s rural partnership programmes in the north of Hungary, who will serve as referee mascots on the big night. Others come from Second Chance programmes located across Budapest, including training sessions in child protection institutions and on pitches that are easy for local children to access.

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Dora Gottgeisl with the three girls who will accompany the referees onto the pitch at the UEFA Champions League final

Beyond the pitch

Second Chance’s work stretches far beyond the pitch: case management, family support, academic tutoring, summer camps and community-building all form part of the programme.

"We don't only focus on the football but also try to offer a community for those who have experienced social problems or challenges,” Dora explains. “We work on the children's physical well-being, but also their mental well-being.”

Sense of community

Providing a sense of community is crucial because, for many of the children, life away from football can feel challenging. Many have not had consistent opportunities to grow up in encouraging environments that support learning, play, and development.

“In general, they often arrive with very low self-esteem,” says Dora. “They have issues with anger management and controlling their emotions. Often, they don’t really have role models in the family or from society."

Second Chance represents a source of much-needed stability for these kids. "We try to provide them with a safe place where they know there is a place for mistakes,” she says, "and even when you make a mistake, you can come back the next time and still be a part of our community.”

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Arsenal's Martin Ødegaard meets one young fan in Budapest

Ease of access

Where equipment, facilities, or organised activities are limited, football’s simplicity matters: it gives children an easy way to play, connect, and take part.

“Football is one such a popular game, and it’s very easy to play,” Dora says. “You just need a ball, any kind of ball is enough, and you can create a goal using a wall, jumpers, or event stones. Anybody can play this game and it teaches so much more than physical skills.”

“We believe that almost all the situations on the pitch can be transferred into an everyday situation off the pitch,” she explains.

Living out a positive experience

This week’s dream trip to the Champions League final is not separate from the programme’s mission but an extension of it, where children from worlds often defined by limitation will live out a positive experience that will stay with them forever.

Individually, they represent different places and stories, but they share the same extraordinary opportunity: to feel seen, welcomed and inspired at the highest level of the game, rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest stars on the planet.

Paris Saint-Germain Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League Final 2026 (1)
Paris star Désiré Doué meets young fans

Lasting change

Of course, it takes more than one magical moment to create a lasting change. “Maybe people will think that the kids come to our programme, or this final, and a miracle will happen, that they will suddenly transform,” say Dora, “but we have to understand that positive impact truly comes in the long- and medium-term.”

“Our hope is that in five or six years, even if they are not part of the programme anymore, they will remember some things that they learned from Second Chance and it continues to have an impact on their lives.”

That long view is what makes this final-weekend experience so special. The memories made at the Puskás Aréna can stay with these children long after the final whistle - reminding them of joy, belonging, and the possibilities that exist beyond their everyday challenges.

Circle keeps turning

Perhaps the most beautiful part of Second Chance’s work is that the circle keeps turning.

Dora speaks proudly about young leaders who have spent six or seven years with the organisation and now return to help with tournaments and summer camps, becoming role models for the next generation. Those children who once needed a safe place to grow up are now creating them for others.

In time, the 30 young fans living their football dream in Budapest might just do the same for the next generation, and tell them about the time they came face to face with the UEFA Champions League winners.

 

Budapest welcomes new Lay’s RePlay pitch ahead of Champions League final

Budapest welcomes new Lay’s RePlay pitch ahead of Champions League final

The UEFA Foundation for Children and Lay’s have partnered again to open a RePlay facility in the Hungarian capital, providing a new space to play, connect and develop through football.

"Dream big, work hard, and never doubt that your path can take you further than you ever imagined."

With a brand-new football pitch on their doorstep, aspiring young players in Budapest now have a new place to put that message from Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai into practice.

Located in Nyúldomb in the city's Ferencváros district, the pitch was officially opened ahead of the 2026 UEFA Champions League final as part of Lay’s RePlay – a global initiative launched by Lay’s and the UEFA Foundation for Children in 2021 that repurposes crisp packets to help build football pitches.

Szoboszlai, a Lay’s ambassador, attended the launch alongside Újpest FC’s Orsolya Dencz, joining local youngsters in football challenges and activities during the opening celebration.

"I still remember what it felt like to be a kid with big dreams and a ball at my feet," said Szoboszlai. "I have the chance to give something back and support young people who are at the beginning of their journey – something I truly value."

Hosted by Hungarian sports journalist and TV presenter Zoltán Szujó, the event also welcomed representatives from PepsiCo, Common Goal, the UEFA Foundation and local partner Second Chance Sports Association (MESE).

 

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Young players with the UEFA Champions League trophy

A space at the heart of the community

The Nyúldomb pitch provides a new space for a community in which football already plays a defining role. Open to the wider community, it will also host structured programmes and football-based activities designed to support young people through inclusion, teamwork and personal development.

The new facility was developed in partnership with MESE, a local organisation with a track record of using football to promote inclusion, equal opportunity and personal growth among young people in Ferencváros.

In line with the broader Lay's RePlay concept, the pitch is intended to stand as more than a piece of infrastructure, but as a welcoming, inclusive space where young people can explore their potential and connect with football in a positive way.

In Budapest, football is deeply rooted in community life. With Lay’s RePlay, we are proud to create a space where young people can play, connect and feel a sense of belonging.

- Konstantin Merkviladze, general manager of PepsiCo Southeast Europe and Baltics

What is Lay's RePlay?

Launched in 2021 by Lay's and the UEFA Foundation for Children, Lay’s RePlay transforms empty crisp packets into sustainable community football pitches.

Through the initiative, pitches have been built in 13 cities across 12 countries: from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Italy, Mexico and the United States to Egypt, Türkiye, Colombia, Spain, Portugal and now Hungary. Between them, Lay’s RePlay pitches have been used on more than 1.1 million occasions.

 

UEFA Foundation creates special memories at Champions League final in Budapest

UEFA Foundation creates special memories at Champions League final in Budapest

At the 2026 UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, the UEFA Foundation gave children from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to meet the players and accompany them onto the pitch during the opening ceremony.

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League final in Budapest, contested by Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, once again demonstrated football's unique ability to unite, inspire and create lasting social impact.

The UEFA Foundation was proud to welcome three inspiring local partners to the final – Second Chance Sports Association, Amigos for Children Foundation and Inter Campus.

Second Chance uses football to support disadvantaged young people in Budapest, helping them build confidence and motivation, while Amigos for Children brings joy and learning opportunities to children undergoing long-term medical treatment.

Inter Campus promotes inclusion across Europe through football, combating discrimination, encouraging intercultural dialogue and supporting minority communities. Its initiatives in Hungary include regular football sessions at an orphanage in Budapest.

 

Amigos for Children Foundation (3)
Amigos for Children provides support for young people undergoing long-term medical care

Unforgettable moments on football's biggest stage

With the support of our partners FedEx, Mastercard and Qatar Airways, children from our partner organisations enjoyed a once‑in‑a‑lifetime Champions League final experience in Budapest.

Throughout the week, they attended the finalists’ official training sessions, giving them the chance to watch Europe’s biggest stars prepare for the match. They also met players, collected autographs and created unforgettable memories at one of world football’s most iconic events.

On matchday, some of the children took centre stage as they stepped onto the pitch during the opening and closing ceremonies, experiencing the atmosphere from the heart of the action.

 

Zsombi - closing ceremony participant

After the final whistle, nine‑year‑old Zsombi stepped onto the big stage and accompanied UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin to present the players’ medals during the trophy ceremony.

Zsombi is both a passionate football fan and a dedicated violin player. He first met Amigos volunteers after undergoing surgery at Bethesda Children’s Hospital. His role in the closing ceremony reflects the programme’s wider mission: creating meaningful experiences that help children reconnect with their interests, their confidence, and their communities.

 

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Nine‑year‑old Zsombi will walk onto the pitch alongside the UEFA President during the trophy ceremony.

A lasting legacy in Budapest

As part of the celebrations in Budapest, our partner PepsiCo and Lay’s inaugurated the latest Lay's RePlay pitch in the city.

Accompanied by a dedicated social impact programme involving Second Chance Sports Association, the new pitch will provide a safe and inclusive space where local young people can access sport and community activities throughout the year.

This will be the 13th RePlay pitch delivered by the UEFA Foundation and Lay’s since 2021. The others are in South Africa, Brazil, the UK, the US, Italy Mexico, Egypt, Türkiye, Spain, Colombia and Portugal.

 

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Second Chance uses football to support disadvantaged young people in Budapest

Eleven years of impact – with more to come

Since 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has worked to turn football into a tool for social impact. In its first decade, it supported 765 projects in 156 countries, improving the lives of over 4.9 million children. Today, 166 initiatives continue to use the power of sport to promote education, health, inclusion and personal development.

As the UEFA Foundation enters its next decade, its mission remains clear: to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, can dream, grow and find their place through football.

 

UEFA Foundation honours partners helping children thrive through football

UEFA Foundation honours partners helping children thrive through football

The Award recognised 29 NGOs' outstanding work during the Board of Trustees meeting in Leipzig

The Board of Trustees of the UEFA Foundation for Children has selected 29 organisations from across Europe as winners of the 2026 UEFA Foundation for Children Award, recognising their outstanding work using football to improve the lives of vulnerable children.

The decision was taken at a board meeting held in Leipzig, ahead of the UEFA Conference League final, following recommendations from UEFA member associations. These organisations were selected for their innovative and impactful use of football to address social challenges in areas such as health, inclusion, education, and child protection.

"For many children, a football pitch is more than a place to play. It is the place where they feel safe, accepted, accomplished and part of something bigger than themselves. The organisations we recognised here today understand that very well, and through their dedication, football becomes a language of care, trust and possibility - helping children not only to dream, but to believe that those dreams may come true", said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, who chaired the meeting.

The total available funding of €1 million will be divided equally among the winners, with each receiving a grant of €34,482.75.

List of winners by country:

  • Andorra – Andorran Red Cross
  • Azerbaijan – Regional Development Public Union
  • Bulgaria – Bulgari Foundation
  • Croatia – Society of People with Physical Disabilities of Southern Istria
  • Czechia– Mongaguá team
  • Denmark – BROEN Danmark
  • England – Football Beyond Borders
  • Estonia – MTÜ SPIN
  • Finland – Walter ry
  • France – Bien Jouer
  • Germany – Nordstadtliga Dortmund
  • Hungary – Debreceni Sportcentrum
  • Ireland – Jigsaw
  • Italy – Kodokan Napoli APS
  • Kosovo – Shoqata Sportive Futsall Tournament Prishtina / Turneu i Futsallit Prishtina
  • Lithuania – Lithuanian grassroots football association
  • Luxembourg – Kanner Stëmm
  • Netherlands – Together Advancing Common Trust
  • North Macedonia – Karposhovo 1689 BB Football Club
  • Northern Ireland – Irish FA Foundation
  • Norway – Advisory foundation in support of Football for the Goals
  • Poland – Trenuj Bycie Dobrym
  • Portugal – Social Innovation Sports
  • Romania – Neuroatypical Foundation
  • Scotland – Scottish Professional Football League Trust
  • Slovakia –Slovak Football Association Foundation
  • Spain –Albihar Fundación
  • Sweden – The Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund
  • Switzerland - Kinderschutz Schweiz

Next call for projects

The UEFA Foundation for Children will continue expanding its global reach through partnerships that harness football as a catalyst for positive change. Its annual call for projects will take place from 29 June to 3 August 2026. Applicants from all over the world are invited to submit their projects on our website, where all the necessary information and the selection criteria will be published. The board of trustees will decide on projects and announce its decision following its next meeting in November.

Sillman joins Board of Trustees

The UEFA Foundation for Children is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Sillman to its Board of Trustees.

Sillman is the Executive Director of Relevent Sports Group, a sports media and events company active in international football. Relevent has worked with major football organisations and competitions, including UEFA and La Liga, across media rights and event delivery. Through his work in sport, Sillman has also supported initiatives that reflect the foundation’s broader interest in football’s positive social impact.

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UEFA Foundation for Children website: https://uefafoundation.org/

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Contact address for media inquiries: media@uefa.ch

UEFA Foundation gives local children unforgettable Conference League final experience

UEFA Foundation gives local children unforgettable Conference League final experience

Young people supported by community organisations took centre stage in Leipzig thanks to the UEFA Foundation for Children.

Alongside the Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans who gathered in Leipzig for the UEFA Conference League final, a group of local children were looking forward to the showpiece with the same sense of anticipation.

The UEFA Foundation for Children arranged for 50 young people engaged with local charity Spirit of Football and RB Leipzig’s community partners KMV Sachsen gGmbH and Kick Fair to attend the match, while 15 got to see stars of the final up close during a special meet-and-greet session ahead of the match.

On matchday, three children walked out onto the pitch with the finalists as referee mascots organised by competition partner Hankook, giving them the chance to experience one of European football’s biggest occasions from the heart of the action.

And after the final whistle, lucky youngster Niko accompanied UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin onto the pitch and helped him hand out the medals during the closing ceremony.

 

LEIPZIG, GERMANY - MAY 27: Referee, Maurizio Mariani and Assistant Referees, Daniele Bindoni and Alberto Tegoni, lead the teams out prior to the UEFA Conference League Final 2026 match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Football Arena Leipzig on May 27, 2026 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Eisenhuth - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Foundation mascots walked out with referee Maurizio Mariani and his team

Supporting the local community

As well as hosting this year’s Conference League final, RB Leipzig are playing an important role away from the pitch through a range of community and charitable initiatives, including with KMV Sachsen gGmbH and Kick Fair.

Working across the state of Saxony, KMV Sachsen gGmbH provides inpatient and outpatient care for children and adolescents along with residential support for families, helping beneficiaries overcome various social and personal challenges.

Kick Fair, meanwhile, works across Germany to implement their unique education concept that uses motor, cognitive, and emotional learning to help children develop holistically and find their place in society.

RB Leipzig also has long-standing partnerships with multiple local homelessness charities, offers free match tickets through community festivals and stages an annual Glühwürmchenumzug – a lantern parade at the Leipzig Stadium, all the proceeds of which are donated to local hospitals and healthcare charities.

That community spirit is visible on matchdays, when supporters can donate their reusable cup deposits to social projects across the region.

Embodying the Spirit of Football

Non-profit organisation Spirit of Football uses the sport and community projects to promote diversity, respect and teamwork across Germany.

It delivers workshops combining football and cultural activities designed to combat racism and prejudice, working in particular with refugees, migrants, girls and women, disabled people and disadvantaged youngsters.

In the run-up to every FIFA World Cup, Spirit of Football organises for a special ball to make a symbolic journey from the site of the first football match organised under modern rules in London to the opening ceremony – spreading a message of unity and fair play along the way through community events and workshops.

 

2025002425_Spirit of Football_Germany (7)
Spirit of Football works with refugees, girls and women, disadvantaged young people and people with disabilities

Eleven years of impact – with more to come

Since 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has worked to turn football into a tool for social impact. In its first decade, it supported 765 projects in 156 countries, improving the lives of more than 4.9 million children. Today, 166 initiatives continue to use the power of sport to promote education, health, inclusion and personal development.

As the UEFA Foundation enters its second decade, its mission remains clear: to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, can dream, grow and find their place through football.

 

UEFA Foundation brings children closer to Women’s Champions League final

UEFA Foundation brings children closer to Women's Champions League final

The UEFA Foundation for Children gave girls from local charity Rosa Sko the opportunity to be at the heart of the action when Barcelona faced OL Lyonnes in the UEFA Women's Champions League final in Oslo.

Across all four UEFA club competition finals for the 2025/26 season, the UEFA Foundation is once again giving young people from vulnerable and underprivileged backgrounds the chance to attend the matches and create lasting memories.

For this year's Women's Champions League final, the UEFA Foundation arranged for 50 youngsters from the Rosa Sko Foundation, a Norwegian organisation dedicated to increasing girls' participation in sport, to attend the match.

The children not only watched Barcelona vs OL Lyonnes at Ullevaal Stadion, but also attended the teams' official training sessions and enjoyed a meet-and-greet with the players.

One lucky participant – 10-year-old Hadiya – helped hand out the medals alongside UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin during the closing ceremony.

Living in Groruddalen in the east of Oslo, Hadiya is a keen footballer and has been a regular at Rosa Sko's sessions over the past two years. Already a passionate supporter of women's football, she has now experienced its biggest club occasion from the heart of the action.

 

FC Barcelona v OL Lyonnes - UEFA Women's Champions League Final 2026
Hadiya helped the UEFA president hand out the medals after the final

Giving girls access to sport

Rosa Sko works to give girls in Oslo – particularly those from minority backgrounds – greater access to organised sport, while also creating pathways for young female coaches.

The organisation provides free school-based football activities for girls in a safe and supportive environment, following a 'girls coaching girls' approach designed to encourage participation.

Alongside the school activities, 'transition academies' have been established to help participants continue their journey into local club football. The academies are free of charge, open to all girls and focused on confidence-building, wellbeing and participation rather than performance.

Alongside its involvement with the Women's Champions League final, Rosa Sko was previously selected as Norway's grassroots initiative to champion during and after UEFA Women's EURO 2025. This was part of the Legacy for the Future programme, developed by the UEFA Foundation for Children and the adidas Foundation.

 

OSLO, NORWAY - MAY 22: Aitana Bonmati of FC Barcelona signs autographs for fans during a training session ahead of the UEFA Women's Champions League Final 2026 match between FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais at Ullevaal Stadion on May 22, 2026 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
The children attended official training sessions and a meet-and-greet with the players

11 years of impact

Since 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has worked to turn football into a tool for social impact. In its first decade, it supported 765 projects in 156 countries, improving the lives of over 4.9 million children. Today, 166 initiatives continue to use the power of sport to promote education, health, inclusion and personal development.

As the UEFA Foundation enters its second decade, its mission remains clear: to ensure every child, regardless of circumstance, can dream, grow and find their place through football.

 

UEFA Foundation for Children and Lidl Bring Purpose to the UEFA Europa League Final in Istanbul

UEFA Foundation for Children and Lidl Bring Purpose to the UEFA Europa League Final in Istanbul

Istanbul, 20 May 2026 – At the UEFA Europa League Final in Istanbul, the UEFA Foundation for Children and Lidl are using the power of football to create meaningful social impact.

Through the Lidl Kids Team initiative, children from local partner organisations, Bonyan Organization and Kızlar Sahada, will step onto the pitch alongside the players, promoting inclusion, social cohesion, and gender equality on one of football’s biggest stages.

   

The initiative reflects a shared commitment to providing opportunities for children from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds. By placing them at the heart of the final, the UEFA Foundation for Children and Lidl aim to inspire confidence, ambition, and a sense of belonging —demonstrating that football can be a powerful driver for positive change.

“Football has a unique ability to unite people and create lasting impact beyond the pitch. Through initiatives like the Lidl Kids Team, we are proud to give children from all backgrounds the opportunity to be part of unforgettable moments, while promoting inclusion, respect, and personal development,” said Carine NKoue, General Secretary of the UEFA Foundation for Children.

As UEFA Europa League’s Official Fresh Food Partner, Lidl also supports the promotion of active lifestyles and conscious nutrition among young people. The Lidl Kids Team initiative highlights the importance of combining physical activity with healthy habits, encouraging families across Europe to adopt balanced lifestyles that support long-term wellbeing.

“At Lidl, we believe that healthy habits start early. By connecting children to the excitement of football while promoting conscious nutrition and active lifestyles, we aim to inspire a new generation to take care of their wellbeing both on and off the pitch,” said a Lidl spokesperson.

Spanning the entire UEFA Europa League season, the Lidl Kids Team initiative has brought children closer to the game from the group stages through to the final. With the support of host clubs and community organisations, it has created unforgettable experiences while placing young people at the centre of the action.

At the final in Istanbul, 22 children will accompany the players from SC Freiburg and Aston Villa, representing organisations that are making a difference through sport. Among them are Bonyan Organization, which supports refugee and vulnerable youth, and Türkiye’s Kızlar Sahada, a pioneer in advancing gender equality through football and life skills development.

The collaboration between the UEFA Foundation for Children and Lidl demonstrates how football can drive meaningful social impact. By leveraging the global reach of UEFA competitions, the partnership creates opportunities for young people, increases access to sport, and promotes the importance of an active lifestyle supported by conscious nutrition.

   

 

Since its creation in 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has supported 765 projects in 156 countries, reaching more than 4.9 million children worldwide. Together with partners like Lidl, it continues to harness football’s unique ability to promote education, inclusion, health, and personal development.

As the Foundation enters its next decade, its mission remains clear: to ensure that every child—regardless of their background—can dream, grow, and find their place through football.

Moments of magic in Istanbul: the UEFA Foundation brings children from local charities to the Europa League final

Moments of magic in Istanbul: the UEFA Foundation brings children from local charities to the Europa League final

The UEFA Foundation for Children offers youngsters from the Bonyan Organization and Kızlar Sahada an exclusive look inside the UEFA Europa League final.

Each year, the UEFA Foundation for Children invites young people from vulnerable and underprivileged backgrounds to experience UEFA’s biggest occasions from the heart of the action – meeting players, attending the match and, for some, stepping onto the pitch as mascots before kick-off.

At this week’s UEFA Europa League final in Istanbul, 50 children from UEFA Foundation partner organisations Bonyan and Kızlar Sahada will be watching the match from the stands, with many of them having attended a special meet‑and‑greet session with players of Aston Villa and Freiburg beforehand.

Also getting a chance to see the stars of the final up close will be the 22 children walking out as player mascots at Beşiktaş Park, thanks to the UEFA Foundation and Europa League partner Lidl.

Taking centre stage

One youngster will get to experience the final from closer than most supporters could ever imagine.

Ten-year-old Şerif, one of the many children the Bonyan Organization works with, will step onto the pitch after the final whistle to help UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin hand out the players’ medals.

Şerif lives in Akçakale, a district on the Turkish border with Syria that has been deeply affected by conflict and displacement in the region. Growing up alongside Syrian refugee children, he has developed a strong sense of empathy and community from an early age.

He has become a positive role model among his peers – making his role on one of European football’s biggest stages all the more special.

Bonyan Organization

The Bonyan Organization is a non‑governmental, non‑profit organisation dedicated to supporting war‑affected communities across the Middle East.

It runs multiple sport-for-development projects in Türkiye, which is host to millions of Syrian refugees. The initiatives focus on providing long-term access to sport to both host and refugee communities, encouraging inclusion and gender equality.

Through inclusive football activities, life‑skills training, and environmental initiatives, Bonyan empowers young people to learn, connect, and grow in safer and more supportive environments.

Kızlar Sahada

Translating to ‘Girls on the Field’, Kızlar Sahada is a sport‑for‑development initiative that uses football to challenge gender stereotypes and expand opportunities for girls and women across Türkiye.

The UEFA Foundation provides funding for Kızlar Sahada’s RePlay Project, which for the past two years has organised free football activities for young boys and girls in Şanlıurfa, southern Türkiye. Regular matchplay and specialised training sessions are designed to provide safe and welcoming environments, and to develop social and emotional skills.

Across the country, Kızlar Sahada also works closely with families, schools, and local government to help overcome restrictive gender norms and create a more supportive environment for girls to participate in football.

 

Khalida Popal delivers coaching clinics for refugees with Dutch FA and UEFA Foundation

Khalida Popal delivers coaching clinics for refugees with Dutch FA and UEFA Foundation

 

Khalida Popal, former captain of the Afghanistan national women’s football team, last week led two coaching clinics at the biggest refugee centre in the Netherlands.

The clinics mainly focused on women, girls and refugee children, using sport as a tool for integration and empowerment, and were delivered in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Football Association’s (KNVB) WorldCoaches programme.

Popal visited the initiative in the Dutch town of Ter Apel, helping to train residents of the local asylum seeker centre to become sports coaches and community leaders, enabling them to organise regular football activities for local children. Her own experiences in creating the Afghanistan women's team before seeking asylum in Denmark is an inspirational example for them to follow.

"As someone who has lived the refugee experience myself and used football as a lifeline, it was a true pleasure to work with refugees in this programme," said Popal, now a bestselling author who leads Girl Power, an NGO that helps refugee women rediscover their strength through sport.

"After everything they have been through, seeing their strength, courage, and commitment to creating positive change in their new communities through football and life skills was incredibly inspiring. I hope they become community leaders and role models for the next generation. It reminded me why I started this journey in the first place: to use the power of the game to give others the opportunities and hope that once saved me."

In October, Popal was also in the Netherlands for the fourth edition of the UEFA Unity EURO Cup, a tournament for refugee footballers and members of their host communities, supported by UNHCR, which brought together 18 teams in a powerful celebration of football’s unifying spirit. There, during a high-level forum hosted by the KNVB at its headquarters in Zeist, she spoke about her own experiences of the power of football in the integration of refugees, and how football helped her after she fled Afghanistan.

 

As someone who has lived the refugee experience myself and used football as a lifeline, it was a true pleasure to work with refugees in this programme,

- Khalida Popal

Creating a Legacy for the Future with the Italian Women’s National Team

Creating a Legacy for the Future with the Italian Women’s National Team

A group of young footballers from ASD Balon Mundial Onlus experienced an unforgettable day alongside the Italy women’s national team, as part of Legacy for the Future, a UEFA Foundation for Children.

Hosted at the Italian Football Federation’s historic headquarters in Coverciano, the visit gave the young participants a unique opportunity to watch the Azzurre train, interact with players and technical staff, and experience elite football up close. Beyond the pitch, the day was about inspiration, confidence, and showing what is possible through dedication, teamwork, and belief.

Empowering Girls and Women Beyond Football

Legacy for the Future was launched in 2025 to ensure that Women’s EURO 2025 delivers a long-term social impact. The programme supports initiatives that empower girls and women not only in football, but also in:

  • Education and lifelong learning
  • Employment and leadership
  • Social inclusion and community life

As part of the initiative, each national association participating in Women’s EURO 2025 selected one organisation in its country working to advance gender equality. These organisations receive:

  • Financial support
  • Increased visibility and networking opportunities
  • Capacity-building support to strengthen their long-term impact

Italy selected Balon Mundial, a Turin-based non-profit organisation founded in 2012 that uses football as a tool to promote inclusion and challenge discrimination.

A Shared Moment of Values and Inspiration

Speaking after the visit, experienced Italy defender Elena Linari highlighted the importance of these exchanges:

“We were able to host a group of extraordinary young women who share truly unique values with us. It was genuinely very special to welcome them here in Coverciano.”

For the players, the presence of young people who see football as a means of inclusion and empowerment brought renewed meaning to their daily work.

 

Bringing Football Back to a Human Scale

For Balon Mundial’s project manager Beatrice Serasso, the day represented something deeply meaningful:

“This experience allows our girls and our women’s team to connect with a reality that is often only seen on screens. Moments like this remind us that football can still feel human and accessible.”

Her colleague Elena Fatta described the invitation as recognition of the organisation’s mission:

“Being here today is a sign that we are succeeding. It motivates us to continue expanding our work and breaking down barriers through sport.”

 

Legacy for the Future: additional information

 

 

About ASD Balon Mundial

ASD Balon Mundial ONLUS is an amateur sports association founded in Turin in 2012. Through football and inclusive empowerment programs, it promotes social inclusion, education, and active citizenship. Working within national and international networks, the association develops innovative non-formal education methods focused on fair play, respect, and conflict resolution. Each year, its projects engage over 7,000 people of all ages and backgrounds, using sport as a catalyst for equality and community empowerment.