Uprooted to unstoppable: UNHCR's Gamechanging Team, captained by Alphonso Davies, inspires fans and refugees to believe in the possible

GENEVA - Ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is announcing a symbolic team of global football players with a refugee or displacement background.

This Gamechanging Team embodies hope, courage, resilience and the power of what is possible when young people displaced by war and persecution find safety, opportunity and welcome.

The launch kicks off today in advance of UN World Football Day on May 25. The team is captained by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and Canada Men's National Team captain, Alphonso Davies, who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana after his parents fled war in Liberia before being resettled to Canada. He is joined by Germany's Antonio Rüdiger - whose parents fled conflict in Sierra Leone to Germany, for which he now plays.

Other team members:

• Asmir Begović: Player for Leicester City FC, who fled Bosnia when he was four, and represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at their first World Cup.
• Ali Al-Hamadi: Player for Luton Town FC, who fled Iraq to find safety in the UK, and helped Iraq qualify for their first World Cup in 40 years.
• Eduardo Camavinga: Player for Real Madrid, whose parents lived through war in Angola and started a new life in France. He now plays for the French national team.
• Victor Moses: Player for FC Kaisar, who fled Nigeria to find safety in the UK and went on to represent Nigeria.
• Mohamed Touré: Player for Norwich City FC, who was born as a refugee in Guinea and resettled to Australia, and now represents the Australian national team.
• Awer Mabil: Player for CD Castellón, who was born in Kakuma refugee camp and played for Australia at a World Cup.
• Nestory Irankunda: Player for Watford FC, who was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania and resettled to Australia, where he represents the national team.
• Bernard Kamungo: Player for FC Dallas, who was raised in a refugee camp in Tanzania before being resettled to Texas. He has represented the US national team.
• Ermedin Demirović: Player for VfB Stuttgart. His father fled Bosnia and built a new life in Germany, where Ermedin was born and raised. He represents the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, helping it qualify for a second World Cup.

Many of these players will feature on the pitches at the upcoming World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

In a world beset by conflict, with over 117 million people forcibly displaced globally, UNHCR's Gamechanging Team are united, unstoppable on and off the pitch and a symbol of what is possible when young people find safety and opportunity. They stand with UNHCR in calling for safety and opportunities for every one of the 48.8 million displaced children around the world.

As the largest ever World Cup this summer puts footballers and this powerful game into the global spotlight, this group of players are committed to using their platforms to tell their stories from childhood to today, to inspire and stand in solidarity with children and young people around the world who have been forced to flee.

Canada's Alphonso Davies, Captain of UNHCR's symbolic team, said: "It's so special to lead UNHCR's Gamechanging Team - a team of players whose childhoods have all been touched by war and displacement. We show what is possible when kids find safety and opportunity. In times like these, I hope we can bring hope and a belief that no matter how hard the road is, you can always overcome it.'

Germany's Antonio Rüdiger said. "My parents came to Germany from Sierra Leone to seek safety and a better future. Now, representing Germany is a full-circle moment for me. It is something I carry with great pride. It also comes with a responsibility: to give my best on the pitch, and to create meaningful impact beyond it. Through my own foundation in Sierra Leone, and through organizations like UNHCR, young people and families impacted by displacement have better access to education, sport and healthcare. Because every child deserves the chance to grow, to dream, and to succeed."

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, said, "This summer marks the biggest World Cup ever. It is an ideal moment for UNHCR's Gamechanging Team to send a message of hope to fans all over the world. Each team member has overcome adversity to achieve their dreams, and they are a powerful reminder of just what young, displaced people can achieve when they find safety and are given opportunities."

Children and youth are among the most vulnerable during displacement from war, violence and persecution. Some are separated from their families, affected by trauma, and some suffer abuse. For young refugees and their communities, sports like football can play a healing role, helping to improve mental and physical well-being, ensuring inclusion and supporting development. Access to sport can bring safety, opportunity, healing, belonging, community and a chance to dream.

UNHCR's Gamechanging Team is being announced today with the release of a short film on social media. The team is also being portrayed in an artwork by sports artist and human rights activist Carling Jackson to be released later this month, depicting the team in a pre-game line- up with their younger selves standing in front of them.

For more information visit the Gamechangers page.

For media enquiries, please contact:

• Sarah Epstein: [email protected], + 44 7572 601088
• Colin Kampschoer: [email protected], +44 7395 798527

Notes to editors

• Download B-roll for media
• Film and stills of the Gamechanging Team (UNHCR's campaign film has been made by production company upperfast, assisted by AI)
• For more information, images, film, quotes or press kit please contact: Sarah Epstein [email protected] or Colin Kampschoer [email protected]
• Global Gamechangers webpage, live from 19 May, with more information
• Further information on UNHCR's Sports for Protection:
  • UNHCR works with partners to deliver sport initiatives around the world, aiming not only to make sure young people who take part have better outcomes in life, but that their communities do too. The sport programmes implemented in refugee and displacement settings support positive growth and change for young refugees and their peers, families and the broader community. They provide a safe and supportive environment, opportunities to develop skills and confidence, and ongoing positive support from peers, coaches and other adults.
  • UNHCR and implementing partners are delivering multi-year sport for protection projects in more than 15 countries and directly engaging more than 70,000 people forced to flee and host communities in safe and protective sport. Our sport initiatives are implemented in refugee camps, settlements and urban settings around the world in locations such as Burkina Faso, Uganda, Kenya, Chad, Bangladesh, Lebanon, Ecuador and Mexico, to name a few. Sport for protection activities differ from one country to the next based on the needs of displaced people and host communities in these different displacement settings. However, sport for protection projects generally include providing regular access to safe and inclusive sport and play-based activities, supporting coaches, sport facilitators and physical education teachers, and providing access to protection services and rights-based awareness raising through events and tournaments.

Related news and stories