News Archive - Page 7 of 16

UEFA Foundation for Children activities during UEFA EURO 2020

In light of the positive impact of the social projects run by the UEFA Foundation for Children and its partners during UEFA EURO 2016, the foundation will oversee all charitable projects associated with this year’s tournament.

The UEFA Foundation for Children reflects UEFA’s desire to play a more active role in broader society and use football and its popularity to create a better world. Established in 2015, the foundation is a charitable organisation governed by Swiss law. It defends the rights of underprivileged children and helps them to have better lives, develop their potential and find their place in the community, all through the beautiful game. Since 2015, it has invested in a total of 318 projects in 116 different countries, for the benefit of more than 1.1 million children. Currently, 168 projects around the world are supported by foundation funding.

Mission

The UEFA Foundation for Children seeks to uphold the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Its main priorities are: (i) support children’s health, especially children with disabilities; (ii) help improve the living conditions of young refugees; (iii) promote children’s access to sport; (iv) help children thrive by encouraging their personal development; and (v) provide material support for sport and education. In addition to those priorities, the UEFA Foundation for Children has recently added an extra focus on employability, to support young people in their social and professional integration through sport.

Children’s Smiles

Location: Stadiums in Copenhagen and Saint Petersburg

Dates

Copenhagen: 12/06 – 17/06 – 21/06 – 28/06

Saint Petersburg: 12/06 – 16/06 – 21/06

The foundation will use the power and excitement of this pan-European football tournament to make a positive impact on the lives of children, especially those living in precarious situations in the host cities. This programme aims to give 8–16 year-olds in disadvantaged communities and 8–21 year-olds living with disabilities the opportunity to attend a EURO 2020 match and feel part of the event.

Player mascot programme

Location: Stadiums in Amsterdam, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and Seville

Matches: #2 to #48

Takeaway.com – a EURO 2020 official sponsor – will give underprivileged children in host cities the opportunity to be player mascots, picking the lucky youngsters with the foundation’s help to take part in the matchday pitch activities. The opening match, semi-finals and finals will be included in this programme as well as the venues in Baku and Saint Petersburg.

Interactive Robot 2020

Location: Stadiums in Budapest, Munich and Seville

Dates

Budapest: 16-9/06 – 23/06

Seville: 14/06 – 19/06 – 23/06

Munich: 15/06 – 19/06 – 23/06

The UEFA Foundation for Children is working with the Eric Abidal Foundation to enable hospitalised children to share in the EURO 2020 experience, by using a remote-controlled robot to connect with the stadium from their hospital bed before the match. They will experience the pre-match atmosphere behind the scenes and be able to interact with players in their favourite team.

Football for Unity festivals 2020

Location: Football villages in Amsterdam, Budapest, Copenhagen, London, Munich and Rome

Supported by the European Union's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), these festivals will use the tournament’s unique multi-country structure to host seven events that share European best social inclusion practices with the rest of the world through football. They will bring disadvantaged European youngsters together, with a focus on foreign nationals and refugee/migrant women.

Festivals accessible to media and public:

Venue	Dates / Times	Activities
UEFA Football Village – Budapest Heroes Square and City Park Ice Rink	Saturday, 19 June 9:00 – 13:00	Fair Play Football Gala (tournament)
Fulvio Bernardini Sport Center– Rome Via dell'Acqua Marcia, 51 - 00158Roma	Saturday, 19 June 15:00 – 20:00	football for inclusion tournament, youth forum/workshop
UEFA Football Village – Copenhagen Ofelia Plads	Friday, 25 June 15:00 – 19:00	football for inclusion tournament, youth forum/workshop
A.V.V. Zeeburgia Kruislaan 244, 1098 SM, Amsterdam	Saturday, 3 July 13:00 – 18:00	football for inclusion tournament, impactful side events and integration activities
Black Prince Trust https://blackprincetrust.org.uk/	Saturday, 10 July 10:00 – 18:00	Football tournament, mural painting, skill zones, youth forum/ workshops

Football for Employability

Location: Puskás Ferenc Stadium in Budapest

This project is supported by FedEx – an official sponsor of EURO 2020.

Football helps young adults who are struggling to enter the job market, involving them in vocational training, personal development programmes and educational activities to improve their job-seeking skills. Beneficiaries of this programme will join the EURO 2020 volunteer programme.

Second Life

Location: All venues

At the end of EURO 2020, local charities working with underprivileged children will be given surplus materials from the tournament, which will benefit those children and leave a positive legacy.

UEFA Foundation for Children photo exhibition

Location: HQ Hotel – London

Date: 5 – 10 July

The UEFA Foundation for Children will stage a photo exhibition promoting children’s rights, raising awareness of the living conditions of disadvantaged children around the world and showing how football can have a positive impact on their lives.

Foundation partners

A Ball For All project by Youthorama: awareness of blind football

Location: Football Village Budapest

Date: 21 June, 12:00 – 16:00

Activity: Experiential safe fun activities for everyone.

Date: 22 June, 15:00 – 19:00

Activity Blindfolded penalty shoot-out with the participation of the Hungarian blind football academy and a group of young Greek volunteers.

Date: 23 June, 15:00 – 16:00

Activities with famous sports athletes/role models and interview opportunities

750 free special mini footballs with the project logos will be distributed to all children with a visual impairment at kindergarten or elementary school throughout the country.

ELEVEN CAMPAIGN

Location: Football Village Rome (Booth name is "KIDS")

Date: 11 June to 11 July

Activities - Social Kick Up Challenge/ Tic Tac Toe/ Mini Football

Location: Football Village London (City Hall)

Date: 19 June to 11 July

Activities - Social Kick Up Challenge/ Tic Tac Toe/ TeqBall/ Mini Football/ Euro Quiz

Location: Football Village London (Trafalgar Square)

Date: 10 July

Activity: A session to discuss about the ELEVEN - Philanthropic Documentary , screening the trailer and discussing about the values of sport.

Location: Football Village Copenhagen

Date: 27th June

Activity: Julie, who is from Copenhagen and the Danish representative in the ELEVEN - Philanthropic Documentary, will participate at a panel with current female national team players to discuss about youth, education, travel and of course football.

The trailer of the ELEVEN - Philanthropic Documentary is screened in all the Football Villages that the EURO2020 takes place.

How can broadcasters get involved?

Football has the power to change children’s lives for the better. By covering the UEFA Foundation for Children’s activities, you will be helping to send meaningful messages of dignity, inclusion and hope to a worldwide audience of millions.

Additional information, such as on media events or interview opportunities, will be published in due course.

More about the UEFA Foundation for Children

Contact person: Tania Baima

Email: contact@uefafoundation.org

UNITY_Oltalom_Photo Package_2_Theme 5_Photo9_001

2021 UEFA Foundation for Children awards announcement

19 organisations rewarded for their daily support of vulnerable children

The board of trustees of the UEFA Foundation for Children met by videoconference on 3 June, with the UEFA president, Aleksander Čeferin, in the chair. The board received updates on and discussed the foundation’s ongoing projects, with a special focus on the activities that will take place during the eagerly awaited UEFA EURO 2020.

Appointment of a new ambassador

The trustees unanimously agreed to appoint Eugénie Le Sommer as the foundation’s first female ambassador. The French international and captain of the Olympique Lyonnais women's team, Le Sommer looks forward to shining a spotlight on the foundation’s initiatives, in particular its promotion of gender equality in sport and empowerment of women. She follows in the footsteps of other international footballers such as Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitić, who also recently became an ambassador to help promote the foundation’s work around the world.

2021 award winners

The board’s spring meeting is also when the UEFA Foundation for Children selects its annual award winners among charities and other organisations working in favour of children's rights. Organisations are nominated by the UEFA member associations. The year, it was decided to share the total amount available (€1m) equally among 19 organisations. Each will therefore receive €52,630.

“The past year has been particularly difficult, but it is encouraging to see how the NGO partners have been able to adapt and innovate to support the growing number of children in need because of this pandemic”, says Aleksander Čeferin. “We are pleased to be able to support 19 additional organisations in Europe through the 2021 UEFA Foundation for Children award.”

List of 2021 Foundation for Children award winners:

IOC code	UEFA member association	Award winner
ARM	Football Federation of Armenia (FFA)	Girls of Armenian Leadership Soccer (GOALS)
AZE	Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA)	Azerbaijan Autism Association and Care-for the healthy generation
BLR	Belarus Football Federation (ABFF)	international charity ‘Children. Autism. Parents.’
CRO	Croatian Football Federation (HNS)	Prijatelj association for people with disabilities
CYP	Cyprus Football Association (CFA)	One dream, one wish’ association for children with cancer
DEN	Danish Football Association (DBU)	Parasport Denmark
ENG	English Football Association (The FA)	Football Beyond Borders
FRA	French Football Federation (FFF)	Comité Ethique et Sport
GER	German Football Association (DFB)	Agapedia Foundation
ISR	Israel Football Association (IFA)	Yeladim – Fair Chance for Children
ITA	Italian Football Federation (FIGC)	Fondazione LAPS
MDA	Football Association of Moldova (FMF)	Special Olympics Moldova
MLT	Malta Football Association (MFA)	Richmond Foundation
NED	Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB)	Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur (Youth Fund Sports & Culture)
NIR	Irish Football Association (IFA)	Irish FA Foundation
POL	Polish Football Association (PZPN)	Fundacja dla Dzieci z Cukrzycą (Foundation for Children with Diabetes)
RUS	Football Union of Russia (FUR)	Culture of Nations’ Fund for Socio-Cultural Development and Innovation
SUI	Swiss Football Association (SFA)	Florijana Ismaili FI9
WAL	Football Association of Wales (FAW)	FAW Trust

Call for projects 2021

The UEFA Foundation for Children’s next call for projects will be open from 28 June to 15 August 2021. Applicants from all over the world can submit their project proposals on the foundation website, where all the necessary information and the selection criteria will be published. The board of trustees will select projects and announce its decisions at its next meeting, in November.

Eugénie Le Sommer supports the UEFA Foundation for Children

Investing in younger generations is second nature to France’s top female goal-scorer.

The UEFA Foundation for Children is proud to announce that Olympic Lyonnais striker Eugénie Le Sommer has become its first women’s football ambassador. The French national team’s top goal-scorer hopes to use her high profile and football’s popularity to raise public awareness of children’s rights and education issues around the world.

“When they offered me this new role,” she explains, “I jumped at the chance, for various reasons. First, I’m committed to UEFA and understand all the good it can do for the women’s game and I know a bit about its foundation. But, above all, I am very committed to children’s education and giving young people the educational resources they need to grow up in the best environment. I want to help future generations, and I’m already doing that. So, now I’m looking forward to my new role.”

In signing for the foundation, she follows in the footsteps of Ivan Rakitić, the Croatian midfielder who became an ambassador in February.

Meaningful impact

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, who is chairman of the UEFA Foundation for Children, is delighted that Le Sommer has committed her time to backing this important cause.

“Eugénie Le Sommer is one of the greatest forwards of her generation but, just as importantly, she is someone who wants to make a meaningful impact off the pitch to give children the chance to have a better future,” said the UEFA president. “I am delighted with the commitment, willingness and energy that Eugénie has shown in helping youngsters around the world, and we are looking forward to working closely with her to achieve these goals.”

Commitment to children’s education

“Education is important to me,” says Le Sommer, “and it’s a sector I want to invest time in. We need to send young people the right messages now, so that they have a positive impact throughout their lives. I also want to share the pleasure of playing and my passion for football by helping those who need it in any way possible. Sometimes, the smallest details can actually change lives. I’ve become aware of that over the course of my career.

“Children’s education, access to sport and equal opportunity are issues that have affected my own life, so obviously they matter to me. But everything the foundation does interests me, and I’m prepared to help out in all the various sectors.”

Supporting girls

Eugénie already has experience promoting youth football. She has accompanied various NGOs to schools to encourage youngsters to play football. She also organises all-girls football camps, called Stage Eugénie Le Sommer. During the two-day camps, girls play together, share advice, talk about their shared passion for football and enjoy some exclusive time with the national team player.

“The most important thing,” Le Sommer explains, “is to enjoy life, and I think that denying yourself what you love for the wrong reasons can only make you unhappy. I can only encourage any girls who want to play football to go for it. You should never live with regrets about missing out on what you love.

“We have a privileged place in society. Using our public image to help those in need is just great. Not everyone has the chance to make other people happy. Nowadays, professional female footballers have that opportunity and that’s a good thing.”

Greater visibility for women’s football

Eugénie is enthusiastic about the revamped UEFA Women's Champions League, because the new group stage makes it more similar to the men’s competition. This format ought to result in greater competitiveness in the game and between teams, thereby raising the overall standard of the tournament.

“It is important for the Women’s Champions League to be broadcast all over the world so it can be seen by as many people as possible,” she says. “Especially in countries where they are less used to seeing women play football. This media coverage will enable young female footballers to progress and improve, for the good of women’s football in general. Girls will gain the inspiration they need as they develop and grow, and that will make all the difference.”

Lyon's French forward Eugenie Le Sommer celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League final football match between VfL Wolfsburg and Lyon at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian on August 30, 2020. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Wolfsburg v Lyon - UEFA Women's Champions League: Quarter Final Second Leg

FC Barcelona Women v Olympique Lyon Women - UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Final 2nd Leg

Football combats all forms of discrimination

Seven Football for Unity festivals will be held in UEFA EURO 2020 host cities to showcase how football can create bridges between people and promote the social inclusion of third-country nationals in their host countries.

The UEFA Foundation for Children teamed up with streetfootballworld, the European Football for Development Network and non-profit grassroots football organisations for the Football for Unity project to foster the social inclusion of third-country nationals sustainably through active participation and exchange in football-based initiatives. Football for Unity officially kicked off in January last year, with funding from the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the UEFA Foundation for Children.

Since its launch, Football for Unity has been capacitating local stakeholder groups to implement their own local legacy sports programmes and impactful events against a background of UEFA EURO 2020. Seven Football for Unity festivals are due to be held alongside the tournament in Amsterdam, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, London, Munich and Rome.

“Migration and asylum are major challenges for Europe. The Football for Unity project is based on shared European values, such as humanity and responsibility,” said Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president and chairman of the UEFA Foundation for Children. “UEFA EURO 2020 is an ideal platform to show how football promotes social inclusion and multiculturalism. Football has the power to unite people and to promote difference as a strength.”

The potential of sport has become increasingly recognised by the EU, and football in particular has proved to be a powerful tool to foster respect and promote inclusive communities.

“Football has the incredible ability to bring people together, promote mutual understanding and share life lessons with young people for the benefit not only of these individuals, but society as a whole. We are thrilled to be part of Football for Unity, which uses the power of the beautiful game to further social cohesion and drive constructive discourse on migration and inclusion in UEFA EURO host cities and communities,” commented Vladimir Borković, the co-founder of streetfootballworld.

In addition to the Football for Unity festivals, the project brings together young third-country nationals and young Europeans in seven European capitals in a series of local football programmes, youth forums and integration activities. These initiatives offer the youngsters various opportunities to interact, learn from one another, acquire life skills, become agents of change and build a community.

Additional information on the Football for Unity project.

Project partner

A second life for UEFA Europa League centre circle

A second life for UEFA Europa League centre

Hankook Tire produces string bags out of the banner and invites children from local NGOs to attend the final in Gdansk

Long-running official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, Hankook Tire uses the UEFA Europa League centre-circle carrier programme to literally put young football fans at the centre of the action, walking the centre circle onto the pitch as part of the opening ceremony.

The UEFA Europa League is an important part of Hankook Tire’s sports marketing strategy. Football is one of the most popular sports in the world and plays a major role, in particular, in European countries with high tyre sales potential. Hankook Tire is very pleased not only to be continuing its successful partnership with the UEFA Europa League but also to be using its association with this major event to contribute to such a great corporate social responsibility project.

Most matches in the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League were played behind closed doors, meaning Hankook was unable to invite young people to take part in this unique experience.

To enhance the legacy of the programme and to promote sustainability in football, Hankook Tire and UEFA have recycled the 2020/21 banner material into unique, usable bags. From this arose the idea to use the bags for a good cause, in cooperation with the UEFA Foundation for Children. The finished bags, filled of exclusive gifts and invitations to the UEFA Europa League final in Gdansk, were donated to Amp Futbol Polska and Fair Play Program, two organisations working to support children with special needs in Poland. A total of 60 string bags and match tickets were handed over to the children by UEFA ambassador Jerzy Dudek. It was a very special moment for the children and a unique experience to fulfil their dreams of attending a UEFA Europa League final.

“After a long time without spectators I'm looking forward to the UEFA Europa League Final” said Jerzy Dudek, UEFA Ambassador. “It's nice that Hankook, as a long-standing partner of UEFA, supports two such great organisations by bringing them to the game.”

“It’s an awesome experience today made possible by Hankook. Seeing Manchester United and Villarreal FC is something really special for me. A dream comes true” stated one of the young participants.

The bags were produced by German non-profit organisation Lebenshilfe Bruchsal e.V., which supports people with disabilities in various ways, including job opportunities at six production sites it runs in the district of Karlsruhe. Each bag is unique because it is made from a different part of the centre-circle banner.

The UEFA Foundation for Children has secured an additional 50 tickets to the UEFA Europa League final, to be shared by Hope for Mundial, winners of the 11th Polish Football Championship for Children from Care Homes in 2020 and Fair Play Program.

Kids form Fair Play Program

Kids from Amp Futbol Polska

About Hankook Tire

Project partner

HK_UEL_composite 19_white_official partner[2][1]

Hankook Tire manufactures globally innovative, award winning radial tyres of proven superior quality for passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, RVs, trucks, and buses as well as motorsports. Hankook Tire is aspiring to bring consumers the utmost excellence in product quality, technological excellence and driving satisfaction. Hankook Tire’s European headquarters are located in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main in Germany. The manufacturer operates further branches all over Europe. Hankook Tire employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide and are selling their products in over 180 countries. Hankook Tire has been represented in the renowned Dow Jones Sustainability Index World (DJSI World) since 2016. For more information please visit http://www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com or www.hankooktire.com

FedEx Express and UEFA Foundation for Children support young footballers in Poland

Over 3,000 player mascot kits donated to charities that use football to connect young people and make a positive impact in their lives.

Warsaw, 25 May 2021 – FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world’s largest express transportation company, has donated over 3,000 football kits to young footballers in Poland in cooperation with the UEFA Foundation for Children. The donation was organised in connection with the UEFA Europa League final, taking place in Gdansk on 26 May. FedEx Express is an official sponsor of the UEFA Europa League.

The 2021 UEFA Europa League final is being held at Gdańsk Stadium. In advance of the event, FedEx Express and the UEFA Foundation for Children have donated football equipment to more than 3,000 young Polish in footballers. Młodzieżowe Stowarzyszenie Inicjatyw Sportowych (MSIS), located in Mragowo, received 800 football kits and 200 footballs. Over 2,500 kits and 200 balls were also donated to Amp Futbol Polska to support two initiatives: the Junior Amp Futbol programme aimed at children and young people with amputations and limb disabilities, and the Futbol Plus project supporting football academies for children with various disabilities.

“Football offers many opportunities for social integration and well-being. Especially in these challenging times, it is important to support young people in their physical development. As a company, we want to promote sport among children and continue to complement our professional football sponsorship with locally beneficial initiatives. Our team is incredibly proud of this part of our sponsorship,” said Mariusz Mik, Vice President Ground Operations Eastern Europe, FedEx Express.

This is one of many joint initiatives by FedEx Express and the UEFA Foundation for Children to promote sport among young people. Since becoming official sponsor of the UEFA Europe League in 2015, FedEx Express has collaborated on various programmes that use football as a platform for social change, as well as organising player mascots for the finals in Basel (2016), Stockholm (2017), Lyon (2018) and Baku (2019). The player mascots programme has given over 1,000 children a chance to meet their football heroes. For many of them this was a unique and unforgettable experience. While taking the necessary precautions, Polish children will have the chance to meet their football idols at this year’s final on 26 May.

We are grateful for the generosity of our partner FedEx Express, who has decided to invest in programmes promoting football in underprivileged communities and supporting the football for good movement. With the player mascot programme, we give children living in Poland an experience that will forever remain in their hearts and memories.

- Urs Kluser, General Secretary of the UEFA Foundation for Children

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - MAY 24: The match officials prepare to lead the two teams out prior to the UEFA Europa League Final between Ajax and Manchester United at Friends Arena on May 24, 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Simon Hofmann - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

2017 UEFA Europa League final in Stockholm with children from three community football projects:

Barn till Ensamma Mammor, Trygga Barnen and Kista Sports Club.

2018 UEFA Europa League final in Lyon with children from Sport dans la Ville

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - MAY 29: Fedex during the UEFA Europa League Final between Chelsea and Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu on May 29, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Joosep Martinson - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

2019 UEFA Europa League final in Baku with an all-girl player mascot line-up in support of women’s football at a grassroot level promoted by Football Federation of Azerbaijan.

BASEL, SWITZERLAND - MAY 18: Fedex player escort kids are seen prior to the UEFA Europa League Final between Liverpool and Sevilla at St. Jakob-Park on May 18, 2016 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by Simon Hofmann - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

2016 UEFA Europa League final in Basel with children from four community football projects:

Dream Team Basel; SRD Young Stars; Basel Helps; Pestalozzi Children’s Village

About FedEx Express

Project partner

FedEx Express is the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable deliveries to more than 200 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed up the delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money-back guarantee.

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenue of $79bn, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 570,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit about.fedex.com.

The UEFA Foundation for Children and KeeeX win WSIS Prize 2021

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes are an international contest created to reward new technologies that support sustainable development.

Of the 1,270 projects submitted in 2021, 360 were shortlisted as finalists for an online vote.

We are proud to announce that our project ‘Remote monitoring of funding using a blockchain trusted technology’, organised in collaboration with the UEFA Foundation for Children, was voted one of the top 5 projects in our category.

Thank you to all who voted and helped us to get this far. Special thanks also to the UEFA Foundation for Children, for having such confidence in us right from the start this collaboration, which has turned out to be a wonderful joint adventure.

Consult the full list of champion projects here

UEFA Foundation for Children signs Ivan Rakitić

Croatian legend is "looking forward to putting smiles on children's faces" as the organisation's first official ambassador

The UEFA Foundation for Children is proud to announce that Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitić is to join the organisation as its first official ambassador. The former Croatian international will have the opportunity to take part in UEFA Foundation-led initiatives, as well as promoting the good work undertaken by the body to help improve the lives of children worldwide.

“To be a part of the UEFA Foundation family gives me a lot of pride,” Rakitić explained.

“I’m really happy about it, and it gives me a lot of responsibility to show everyone that together with the UEFA Foundation and all the players we can accomplish a lot and, above all, help children all over the world smile with joy. The fact that I’m a father of two girls means that I know and understand how important it is to see that smile on children’s faces.”

Commitment to improving lives

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, who is also chairman of the board of the UEFA Foundation for Children, is delighted that Rakitić has committed his support to the organisation.

“Ivan Rakitić is not only one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, he is also a person who wants to make a tangible difference away from the pitch in order to improve the lives of others,” said president Čeferin.

“I have been extremely impressed with Ivan’s commitment and desire to help children around the world and we are looking forward to working closely with him in order to achieve these goals. The door is always open for players, both past and present, to follow Ivan’s example and join the UEFA Foundation in an ambassadorial role.”

Being part of a family

Having won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona in 2015 and a year earlier the UEFA Europa League as captain of Sevilla, Rakitić also amassed over 100 caps for Croatia. While he has no immediate plans to hang up his boots, he already has one eye on a post-footballing career.

“I hope that I have many good years ahead of me on the pitch, but of course once I retire, I’m convinced that I’ll have more time and more opportunities to travel and be available," he said.

“Obviously, I want to give [this ambassadorial role] my all from day one. But when that [retirement] day finally arrives, I’m sure that I’ll have more time [to take part in projects] and my excitement will only increase.

“The idea of being a part of this family already has me excited to get started, and I hope to be able to do so for many years because I can see how important it is. It’s important work that affects us all, which is to make many children happy.”

I have been extremely impressed with Ivan’s commitment and desire to help children around the world and we are looking forward to working closely with him in order to achieve these goals. The door is always open for players, both past and present, to follow Ivan’s example and join the UEFA Foundation in an ambassadorial role.

- Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president

Hungary v Croatia - UEFA EURO 2020 Qualifier

Rakitic (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

UEFA Foundation for Children launches digital transformation

The foundation is going digital thanks to a participatory evaluation project created in collaboration with KeeeX.

Since it was established in 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has been supporting projects that offer practical support for vulnerable children in the fields of sport, health, education, personal development and employment. Over that time, the foundation has financed 275 projects in 109 countries across all six continents. In order to ensure that funds are used wisely, activities are organised in line with the agreed objectives and each project complies with the foundation’s code of ethics, representatives are sent to conduct the necessary checks on-site. Although this is an essential task, it is very costly in terms of both time and money, not to mention the environmental impact. The COVID-19 pandemic has made these visits even more problematic.

In January 2021, a pilot project was launched in collaboration with three NGOs based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jordan and Ukraine.

Although it is important to carry out on-site visits to some projects, this remote auditing system will significantly cut our travel costs as well as reducing our carbon footprint,” explains Urs Kluser, general secretary of the foundation. “It will make it easier for us to monitor how the funding we send to our partners is used and the savings we make will enable the foundation to support a greater number of projects."

"KeeeX is proud to be contributing to the work of NGOs and associations on the ground by supporting their outreach activities with its remote auditing solution,” says Laurent Henocque, KeeeX founder and CEO. “The UEFA Foundation for Children provides a remarkable illustration of the ethical strength of a dematerialised, transparent relationship of trust, a relationship made possible by our technology combined with the Bitcoin blockchain.”

The UEFA Foundation for Children entered the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2021 with KeeeX. These prizes recognise projects for their excellence in supporting the implementation of WSIS outcomes, in particular the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They were developed in response to requests from WSIS stakeholders to create an effective mechanism to evaluate projects and activities that leverage the power of information and communication technologies to advance sustainable development. The winners will be announced in May 2021.

About KeeeX

Project Partner

KeeeX provides solutions that make all documents, data, processes and decision chains verifiable and traceable. Founded in 2014, this French start-up combines in its patented process the best of cryptography, digital signature and blockchains. Its products are used in audits, the industrial sector and supply chains, as well as the media, services, luxury goods, agrifood, energy, banking, insurance, legal and compliance sectors.

One million reasons to read the UEFA Foundation for Children’s annual activity report

How the UEFA Foundation for Children has helped over one million children to dream big

The 2019/20 UEFA Foundation for Children activity report shows the power of football to change children’s lives despite the obstacles and adversity created by a global pandemic – from refugee camps and deprived inner-city communities to war zones in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Since 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children’s pioneering campaign to use football to drive social good has improved the lives of more than one million children, across 275 projects in 109 countries.

The 2019/20 season was unusual, to say the least. Not only did it mark the foundation’s fifth anniversary, it was also a year of many challenges. During this time, the foundation’s parent organisation, UEFA, expressed a clear desire to consolidate its support for the protection of children and the promotion of equal opportunities for all.

In 2019/20, the foundation’s funding was distributed equally between projects in Europe and projects on other continents.

The foundation’s tireless efforts to make a difference to children’s lives and put smiles on young faces are showcased throughout the report in a series of real-life stories from inside and outside of Europe.

COVID-19 response

Less than 24 hours after the creation of Common Goal’s COVID-19 Response Fund, the UEFA Foundation for Children became the fund’s first institutional backer. In supporting the fund, the foundation's aim is to tackle the immediate effects of the pandemic on children and young people, ensuring that support continues beyond the initial emergency aid, with a focus on deprived communities and conflict settings. Since launching the fund on 8 April 2020, Common Goal has allocated the first round of funding to 27 community organisations.

Child safeguarding policy

In 2019/20 UEFA drafted a child safeguarding policy to help all European football associations better defend and protect children while they play football - a principle that underpins all the foundation’s activities. An increase in our operational budget also boosted the foundation’s ability to act. All these factors enable the foundation to play an important role during the health crisis that shook the world in the first half of 2020.

Listening, coordinating and adapting responses were the watchwords of the foundation’s work with its various partners. By helping children and their families to overcome this crisis, the foundation was able to minimise the pandemic’s economic and social impact, reduce inequalities and prevent an increase in hardship.

UEFA President: “Football is an extremely powerful tool”

"The UEFA Foundation for Children projects, help communities across the world ,” said UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, who is also the chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees. “Football brings together millions of children from varying backgrounds and cultures, giving them the vital opportunities to share experiences and grow, regardless of their upbringing. Football is a very influential and powerful tool in bringing people together and undoubtedly helps children develop important life skills such as teamwork, decision making and communication."

Future Chanllenges

While many of the projects supported over the past five years have focused children’s health, education and integration, , the foundation is now setting fresh objectives. Attention will also focus on victims of conflict, especially refugees, and the promotion of youth employment through football.

"I have witnessed the abundant benefits first hand having had the privileged chance to be personally involved in many UEFA Foundation for Children projects. From refugee camps to the many suburbs of European cities to the forgotten conflict zones, all of the UEFA Foundation for Children activities have further reinforced my desire to see European football accept its role in the social progress of young citizens all over the world.”

Ethics Code

UEFA Foundation for Children–AFDP collaboration

Project partner

Since 2013, the AFDP and the UEFA Foundation for Children have been organising regular football training sessions and workshops at the camp for displaced persons in Syria, particularly for children, who are the most vulnerable victims of war. This long-term collaboration has given rise to many different projects that use sport, especially football, as a platform for social development. Football continues to play a pivotal role in helping refugees respond to the challenges of their displacement and the impact the conflict has had on their lives, by giving them a fun, healthy team-work based outlet, in which they can build friendships and regain a sense of normality and hope. Additionally, the UEFA Foundation for Children–AFDP collaboration has trained 287 refugees, 190 men and 97 women, to become coaches for over 6,800 Syrian youngsters, 4,150 boys and 2,650 girls. The coaches, in turn, have launched their own football league at the camp and hope to establish a football club in the near future.

About PepsiCo

Project Partner

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2017, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – the fundamental belief that the company’s success is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us. It believes that continuously improving the products it sells, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world enables PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and its shareholders. For more information, visit http://www.pepsico.com/.

Children meet UEFA Champions League stars virtually before kick-off

The UEFA Foundation for Children and Mastercard have been offering several children a once in a lifetime chance to welcome UEFA Champions League stars virtually as they enter stadiums across Europe. Over two weeks, eight children from around Europe interacted with players from some of the biggest European football clubs as they arrived for their official 2020 UEFA Champions League matches.

The young children waved to an array of superstars including Mo Salah (Liverpool), Sadio Mané (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Gini Wijnaldum (Liverpool), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Thorgan Hazard (Dortmund), Axel Witsel (Dortmund), Marco Reus (Dortmund), Justin Kluivert (Leipzig), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern) and Harry Maguire (Manchester United).

On the 25 November, 7-year-old Davion and 10-year-old Ashley welcomed the players ahead of the UEFA Champions League game between Ajax and Midtjylland. Davion and Ashley are both huge Ajax fans and Ashley was particularly excited to welcome her favourite player; dutch superstar, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Davion and Ashely are from our partner organisation – the Johann Cruyff Foundation. On the same evening, 8-year-old Zubair welcomed the reigning European champions, Bayern Munich as they faced RB Salzburg. Zubair is from our partner organisation, Kicken Ohne Grenzen.

On the 1 December, Lucas and Madison from the Liverpool School of Medicine and the Liverpool FC Foundation welcomed the Liverpool players as they took on European giants, Ajax. Lucas was particularly excited to welcome his favourite player, Sadio Mané:

I am so excited. I love Sadio Mané. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity.

Madison’s favourite player is Bobby Firmino and she also loves to play football. Despite being injured recently, Madison has attended training every week to help the coaches and watch her teammates.

Lucas and Madison were extremely excited when they got a bonus wave and a big hello from Liverpool FC head coach, Jürgen Klopp.

On the 2 December, 9-year-old Mia and 8-year-old Mario welcomed the players from Dortmund and Lazio. Mia and Mario were both very excited to welcome their favourite players Marco Reus and Erling Haaland. Mia and Mario are from our partner organisation, the European Football Development Network (EFDN) and both play football for Dortmund.

Finally, on the 8 December, 9-year-old Liam from Germany welcomed the star players from Manchester United and Leipzig before their official UEFA Champions League match. Liam loves to play football and his favourite club is RB Leipzig. Liam’s dreams became real as he welcomed the team and especially his favourite players Dayot Upamecano, Kevin Kampl and Marcel Sabitzer. He also got to meet and greet the RB Leipzig Head coach, Julian Nagelsmann. Liam is linked to our partner organisation, the German football federation and Liam also plays for the junior RB Leipzig team.

A big thank you to all the children and all our partner organisations for helping create these brilliant memories.

UEFA Foundation for Children supports Gazprom pitch donation in Serbia

UEFA Champions League partner Gazprom has sponsored a football pitch for the benefit of 1,000 school children in partnership with the UEFA Foundation for Children.

Over a thousand children in Bavanište have been given a lasting footballing legacy following the donation of a pitch by UEFA Champions League partner Gazprom. The initiative is backed by the UEFA Foundation for Children, while ‘Football Friends’, a local charity and partner of streetfootballworld, helped to select the location.

The ‘field in a box’ pitch was built at the Bora Radić primary school in Bavanište, a village about 40km east of Belgrade. Football Friends will be responsible for maintenance while also coordinating training sessions to ensure the local children get the best possible footballing education.

“We welcome Gazprom’s move to join the football-for-good movement and together we look forward to improving the lives of children and empowering them through football,” said the UEFA president and chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, Aleksander Čeferin. “More than ever, during this sanitarian crisis, it is important to enable school children to exercise regularly, give them hope and raise their spirits.”

As part of the handover, an exhibition match was held to inaugurate the new pitch, with mixed teams of boys and girls playing in the ‘Football Friends’ league.

“Gazprom supports youth sports and a healthy lifestyle,” said Aleksey Miller, the chairman of the Gazprom management committee. “We believe in the importance of children’s football development and hope that, through our support for the field in a box project, more youngsters will have the opportunity to join the football community.”

Launched in 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children uses football as a springboard to empower children around the world. This is achieved through sporting and educational projects that give children a safe place to learn and play, which ultimately improves their long-term prospects. So far, we supported 275 projects in 109 countries across six continents. This has benefited almost 1.2 million children, while an impressive 32 football pitches have been built throughout the world with the help of the UEFA Foundation.

55 new children’s projects approved

This Friday, the UEFA Foundation for Children celebrates World Children’s Day, using the magic of football to support the children who need it most.

On Wednesday 18 November, the foundation’s board of trustees, chaired by the UEFA president, Aleksander Čeferin, met via videoconference to discuss new projects and the institution’s future.

The foundation’s fifth anniversary, this year, is an opportunity to review its past activities and reflect on the future. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the new challenges it has brought with it, the UEFA Foundation for Children was able to rely on its partners’ commitment to help it safeguard children’s rights.

The most anticipated decision of this session was the allocation of the 2020/21 budget of €4,812,021 to new projects or an extension of existing projects, in line with its mission to protect children’s fundamental rights in health and protection, children with disabilities, education and personal development, access to sport, integration of minorities and protection for victims of conflicts.

Approximately half of the foundation’s budget is earmarked for projects in Europe while the rest supports projects in other continents. In all, 55 projects are supported along with three new pitch constructions in Europe in partnership with Lay’s.

“The Foundation views the pandemic as an opportunity to continue to use the beautiful game of football to assist so many organisations, in Europe and around the world, that focus on the needs of children and help them to keep their hopes and dreams alive. Thanks to the support we and our sponsors provide, children are helped to develop and reach their full potential, with dignity and in full protection of their rights.”

Norman Darmanin Demajo, member of the board of trustees

55 NGO projects were selected for financial support from the UEFA Foundation for Children: 24 in Europe; 16 in Africa; 8 in America, 6 in Asia; and 1 in Oceania.

Organisation	Project Name	in Europe
ActionAid Hellas	Beyond goals 2	Greece
Ayuda en Acción	Fairplay4life	Spain
Barça Foundation	FutbolNet	Greece
Bellevue di Monaco	Intercultural rooftop sports court	Germany
Syndrome of Love	Football for Children with Down Syndrome	Russia
European Football for Development Network (EFDN)	EFDN STEM & Football Education Programme	Bulgaria, Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Fondation Arménienne Pour le Développement Durable	Génération Sport	Armenia
Football Association of Moldova	Let’s play outside	Moldova
Foundation Just for Smiles	Smiles for Children	Switzerland
Impala Performance ASBL	Mbo Mpenza Challenge	Belgium
Katamon Moadon Ohadim	Hapoel Katamon’s Neighborhood League	Israel
Kicken Ohne Grenzen	Football Without Borders	Austria
Liverpool School Sport Partnership (LSSP) Foundation	Finding my potential	United Kingdom
Młodzieżowe Stowarzyszenie Inicjatyw Sportowych (MSIS)	Football3 empower girls	Poland
Oltalom Sport Association	New challenges, new opportunities	Hungary
	Adopt a ball	150 countries worldwide
Peres Center for Peace & Innovation	Sport in the Service of Peace	Israel
Rio Ferdinand Foundation	Youth in Action	Northern Ireland
Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI)	Football versus Discrimination	Republic of Ireland
Sport dans la Ville	Vocational Centre	France
Sportske Igre Mladih	Youth Sports Games 2021	Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia
Stichting het Gehandicapte Kind	Bijzondere Eredivisie	Netherlands
streetfootballworld GmbH	Safeguarding children certification programme	Europe
Ukraine Football Development Charitable Foundation	Cup of Trust	Ukraine

Organisation	Project Name	in Africa
Aliguma Foundation	Sports for Resilience & Empowerment Project	Uganda
Georges Malaika Foundation	Future Leaders of Kalebuka	Republic Democratic of Congo
Grootbos Green Futures Foundation	Football Foundation: Sports for Good	South Africa
iACT	Refugee-led sport and early Childhood Education Programme	Chad
Kick4Life	Good Health & Climate Action through Football	Lesotho
La balle aux prisonniers	Sport for reintegration	Côte d’Ivoire
Libre Vue	Solidarité Aveugle	Mali
Light for the World	We are the Champions	South Sudan
Médecins du Monde	Bophelo Ke Kgwele (The game, the Life)	South Africa
Right to Play	Girls on Track	Tanzania
Samusocial International	Promote social inclusion through sport for street children and youth in Pointe-Noire	Republic of Congo
Solidarité Marathon des Sables	Sport Centre in Ouarzazate	Morocco
Street Child	Improving the psychosocial well-being of conflict affected displaced children	Mozambique
Triangle Génération Humanitaire	Strengthen protection, socio-educational activities and social reintegration of vulnerable minors	Central African Republic
Unis vers le Sport	Les gazelles de la Teranga	Senegal
Water4wildlife Maasai Mara	Kick the ball, Save our wildlife	Kenya

Organisation	Project Name	in America
Fabretto Children's Foundation Inc.	Promoting sports to build resilience in rural Nicaragua	Nicaragua
Fight for Peace	Unity & Peace	Jamaica
Fundación Empate	Empate for Argentina	Argentina
Global Outreach And Love of Soccer (GOALS)	Team Goals	Haiti
Johan Cruyff Foundation	A safe space to play for children in Cabreúva, Brazil	Brazil
Mama Alice	Football, fun and friends camp	Peru
Rêves Passion Montreal	Soccer Urbain pour le rêve et l'espoir	Canada
Starfinder Foundation	Senior Leaders	USA

Organisation	Project Name	in Asia
Action for Development	Street children back to school	Afghanistan
Asia Football Development Programme	Kick for hope	Jordan
Baan Dek Foundation	Football4good	Thailand
Cross Cultures Project Association	Bringing Fun Football to Children in Syria	Syria
Fundlife International Inc.	Football for Peace Academy	Philippines
Indochina Starfish Foundation	Playing for Equality	Cambodia

Organisation	Project Name	in Oceania
Just Play	Just Play programme	American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Island, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, India

Orama Neon Youthorama "Adopt a ball"

Just Play action at half time. OFC U-17 Championship 2013, Fiji v Papua New Guinea, Luganville Soccer City Stadium, Vanuatu, Sunday 21st April 2013. Photo: Shane Wenzlick

Just Play "Just Play programme"

Grootbos Green Futures Foundation " Football Foundation Sports for Good"

Fabretto Children's Foundation "Promoting sports to build resilience in rural Nicaragua"

Auction: official signed shirts and footballs from UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League

Signed shirts worn by Lionel Messi from Barcelona, Sami Khedira from Juvenus and Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, the UEFA Champions League ball signed by Chelsea players and much more memorabilia are available now on auctions.uefafoundation.org . Get a shirt signed by your favourite player while supporting humanitarian projects around the world.

The UEFA Foundation for Children is auctioning many limited-edition items, including shirts and footballs from the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. The foundation helps children and safeguards their rights, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The proceeds will be used to finance humanitarian and development projects, mainly involving sport and football, that promote health, education, personal development and the integration of minorities.

Stack Sports will provide GameDay, its online auction platform, for the UEFA Foundation for Children fundraising activities.

Cyril Pellevat, the head of administration at the UEFA Foundation for Children, welcomed the partnership: "The UEFA Foundation for Children is pleased to digitise its fundraising activities by partnering with Stack Sports. Football fans all around the world will have a chance to win limited edition memorabilia from official UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches.”

The UEFA Foundation for Children is pleased to digitise its fundraising activities by partnering with Stack Sports. Football fans all around the world will have a chance to win limited edition memorabilia from official UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches.

- Cyril Pellevat, the head of administration at the UEFA Foundation for Children

About Stack Sports

Stack Sports has been providing next-generation technology solutions on the Australian market since 2001 and has extended its key markets to include Europe, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Other Stack Sports partners in Europe include Basketball England, the Rugby Football League, Basketball Ireland, World Bowling and Run for All. Stack Sports provides membership, competition and event management platforms along with various digital websites, e-commerce, and fundraising solutions for the sports community.

Visa donates €50,000 to UEFA Foundation-backed charity selected by Delphine Cascarino

Player of the Match winner from last season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League final, Delphine Cascarino, has selected French charity Sport dans la Ville to receive a €50,000 donation from Visa

Olympique Lyonnais forward Delphine Cascarino has directed a €50,000 donation from Visa to Sport dans la Ville, which is supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children.

The 23-year-old was instrumental in helping her team defeat VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 in August’s UEFA Women's Champions League final in San Sebastián and was named Player of the Match, presented by Visa.the Player of the Match the opportunity to choose one of the 245 charities supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children.

“I was honoured to be named UEFA Women’s Champions League final’s player of the match," Cascarino said. "I am of course delighted my contribution has been recognised on the pitch, but it is a wonderful feeling to be able to make a difference off the field of play as well.

“Thanks to the generosity of Visa, I am in a position to choose an organisation which is very close to my heart. Sport dans la Ville is doing some exceptional work in my hometown of Lyon and is supporting young people across France. I’m proud to have played a small part in improving people’s lives and am looking forward to charting their progress over the coming years.”

Sport dans la Ville, a longstanding partner of the UEFA Foundation, works with young and disadvantaged children in marginalised neighbourhoods across France to help them achieve a better life through sports by offering mentoring and entrepreneurship programmes. Founded in 1998, today the charity operates in 46 urban areas and has supported more than 12,000 at-risk youths across the country.

“This is a wonderful initiative by Visa to give Delphine Cascarino the opportunity to make a potentially life-changing gesture,” said Nadine Kessler, UEFA’s chief of women’s football. “Football has the power to initiate positive change, by giving girls confidence, resilience and important life skills. This is why I am so delighted that through the UEFA Foundation for Children, last season’s final will have a lasting legacy in helping to improve the lives of youngsters.”

“I want to thank Visa and Delphine on behalf of the entire Sport dans la Ville organisation for this very generous donation,” said Nicholas Eschermann, president of Sport dans la Ville. “We are very lucky to receive this level of support from such a player and company and we look forward to using this to expand our work.”

In December 2018, UEFA announced a landmark seven-year partnership with Visa, who in the process became the first ever UEFA sponsor dedicated to women's football.

The milestone agreement has made Visa a main partner of the UEFA Women's Champions League, UEFA Women's EURO, the UEFA European Women's Under-19 and U17 Championships and UEFA Women's Futsal EURO until 2025, as well as UEFA's football marketing platform Together #WePlayStrong, which is aimed at getting more girls and women to play football.

I was honoured to be named UEFA Women’s Champions League final’s player of the match. I am of course delighted my contribution has been recognised on the pitch, but it is a wonderful feeling to be able to make a difference off the field of play as well.

Thanks to the generosity of Visa, I am in a position to choose an organisation which is very close to my heart. Sport dans la Ville is doing some exceptional work in my hometown of Lyon and is supporting young people across France. I’m proud to have played a small part in improving people’s lives and am looking forward to charting their progress over the coming years.

- Delphine Cascarino, Olympique Lyonnais player

I want to thank Visa and Delphine on behalf of the entire Sport dans la Ville organisation for this very generous donation. We are very lucky to receive this level of support from such a player and company and we look forward to using this to expand our work.

- Nicholas Eschermann, president of Sport dans la Ville

About Visa

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit: visa.fr/blog and @Visa_Fr.

UEFA Foundation makes Hanya’s dreams come true

UEFA Foundation makes Hanya's dreams come true

Hanya Mirzai is 20 years old, originally from Iran and loves football and until recently had never been inside a stadium.

Hanya Mirzai is 20 years old, originally from Iran and had never been inside a football stadium until the UEFA Foundation and its partner organisation in Budapest, Oltalom, secured her tickets for the 2020 UEFA Super Cup match between FC Bayern München and Sevilla at the brand-new, 68,000-seater Puskás Arena.

In an open, honest interview, Hanya talks about her experience growing up in Iran and Iraq, how it was to be inside the stadium, her favourite moment from the match and what her hopes are for the future.

When did you arrive in Hungary and start playing football?

I left Iran when I was four years old and we went to Iraq. I used to have a lot of friends that were male and older than me. They used to play football but not let me join them, because I was small and only five years old. I didn’t have a team there, but I just used to play with my friends in the street.

I moved to Hungary when I was 16 years old and I started playing football for a team as I was obsessed with football.

I have a Hungarian teacher who saw my huge interest in football, and he organised for me to join a team. It really helped me settle as I didn’t know the language and all my team-mates were Hungarian. It was hard, but I really enjoyed myself there. Football is something that makes me feel powerful.

How did you feel attending your first match?

I felt special, but really males and females are equal – there is no reason why females cannot enjoy a football match. There is no difference between me or a guy watching a game.

I was watching with female team-mates and my female coach, but there were some other guys and girls around us and we are all equal. There is nothing wrong with girls being inside a stadium. In fact, one girls’ team sitting near us were really into the game more than the guys!

"It showed me that you don’t have to be a male to enjoy a football match. I really hope that females in Iran and Iraq can watch and play football more freely; right now, females need to be hidden when they play – they cannot even play in a public place which is very sad".

How did it feel going into the stadium for the first time?

I was so excited. I was shaking. It was a little bit scary in the beginning. When I first saw the stadium – it was a little frightening as I saw people sitting from the bottom to the top and the top is so high! I was thinking, ‘Wow, I hope they don’t fall!’

We were sitting quite close to the pitch in the corner, so I was also a little afraid thinking that the ball might come to me in the stands and hit me, but luckily it didn’t happen!

Overall, it was amazing. I always watch matches on television, but this really was another experience to be there and see the match live. Everything seemed so small compared to on television where everything looks so big! I really enjoyed the match a lot.

Did it feel strange that the stadium wasn’t completely full?

It felt a bit strange, but it still felt like there were a lot of people in the stadium. In the end, it was just perfect. Everything that I wanted to see; I saw. Even seeing all the players – it made me realise they are just people like us!

What was your favourite moment in the match?

There were many things, but one thing that really stays with me and which took my attention was seeing the Sevilla players going over to their fans to thank them, celebrating together at the end of the match, even after they lost.

They were cheering and celebrating, and this was all whilst the Bayern players were celebrating their victory and jumping on the stage.

Based on your experience of attending this match, would you like to go and watch some more live football?

Yes. I would really like to get some tickets for the upcoming match of the Hungarian team, Ferencváros. They are playing in the Champions League against Dinamo Kyiv and Juventus. However, the Hungarian team have a lot of fans, so maybe it won’t be that easy to get tickets. But when there are tickets available, I will be the first person buying, for sure!

Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience?

"Everything was so special to me. I will treasure the memories forever. Seeing the Sevilla players and coaches and staff at the end still celebrating together with their fans was special.

"It showed me that winning doesn’t have to be the focus. When you lose, you don’t have to give up. You can go again! They can still be proud as they played well."

Hanya is a member of the Oltalom sport association in Budapest, which helps youngsters to shape their lives using sport and by providing social benefits such as helping them to find work. Drawings from two young Hungarian boys, Eric and Joci, featured on the official UEFA Super Cup match ball. Eric and Joci are also part of the Oltalom sport association.