Football offers a place to play, meet friends, and share an experience. For Ukrainian children living in Poland, those connections form part of life in a new country.
In a September 25 report, FIFA Foundation highlighted 102 children from refugee and host communities participating in the youth program at the 2026 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. Their roles included accompanying players onto the field before matches.
The initiative involved FIFA Foundation and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Caritas Katowice helped Ukrainian children take part.
Alla Senchina, a representative of Caritas Katowice, explained in the published report that the children already enjoyed football, sports, and group activities.
One participant, Mikołaj, described playing midfield, attending school, and having friends in Poland. His account connects the tournament opportunity with everyday experiences of settling into a community.
The program brought children from different backgrounds into a shared football setting. That opportunity matters beyond the ceremony: it gives young people a chance to participate together in the sport they enjoy.