National initiative highlights how soccer is helping refugees in Canada build relationships and thrive
OTTAWA — One month ahead of the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today launched More Than a Game, a national campaign highlighting how soccer is helping refugees across Canada connect with their communities and build a sense of belonging.
Since the 1980s, more than 1.5 million refugees have settled in Canada. With soccer now the country’s most‑played sport, for newcomers, it can serve as a connection between cultures and an opportunity to feel part of their new country.
For many refugee children and youth, soccer offers more than recreation — it provides structure, belonging and hope.
“As Canada prepares to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, soccer shows how sport can build connection, confidence and a sense of belonging across cultures and communities,” said the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport) and Canada’s FIFA Sherpa. “In Canada, sport brings people together and helps create spaces where everyone can feel at home. Sport is one of our greatest nation builders, and initiatives like More Than a Game highlight the power of sport to strengthen communities and open doors for people to thrive.”
Inspiring stories from across Canada
UNHCR Canada’s More Than a Game campaign features refugee leaders, athletes, and mentors who are finding opportunity through soccer, both on and off the pitch:
- Farkhunda Muhtaj (Calgary) — A child of refugees from Afghanistan, Farkhunda is a professional midfielder with Calgary Wild FC and a former captain of the Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team. She now uses her platform as an athlete and educator to advocate for every girl’s right to play sport.
- Dacious Richardson (Vancouver) — After fleeing civil war in Liberia, Dacious found a sense of belonging through soccer in British Columbia. Today, he is a community leader and founder of the nonprofit Rise Above Reality Expectation, which supports refugee and newcomer youth through sport, mentorship, and personal development.
- Saleh Al Osman & the Scarborough Simbas (Toronto) — A Syrian refugee who found his footing in Canada through soccer, Saleh is now a coach and mentor with the Scarborough Simbas, a program that helps newcomer and refugee youth build confidence and friendships through the game.
“Sport is often much more than a pastime; it is a bridge to belonging. For young refugees, a soccer pitch can be a space to connect, participate, and build relationships on their own terms. Through More Than a Game, we’re celebrating how refugees across Canada are contributing, leading, and creating opportunity for themselves and for the communities they are part of,” said Tracey Maulfair, UNHCR Representative in Canada.
A global approach rooted in protection and inclusion
Around the world, UNHCR works with partners to use sport, including soccer, as a tool to support refugee children and youth. From refugee settlements to urban communities, sport offers a safe space for young people to play, connect and regain a sense of normalcy amid uncertainty.
In March, The Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), visited Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, where he met refugee youth participating in education and community activities, including sport‑based initiatives.
“During my visit to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, I saw firsthand the profound challenges that displaced families navigate every day,” said Secretary of State Sarai. “But while watching a women’s soccer match at the camp I was also reminded that sport can offer moments of joy, connection, and belonging in difficult situations. Although sport is not a solution in and of itself, it can provide moments of structure and care—especially for children and youth growing up amid uncertainty. Supporting inclusive, community‑driven initiatives like these, alongside broader efforts to address displacement, reinforces human connections between communities abroad and here in Canada.”
Community visit and global activation
To mark the launch of More Than a Game, UNHCR Canada will visit an after‑school newcomer soccer program in Surrey, B.C., on May 12, where Tracey Maulfair and Dacious Richardson will meet with participating youth and highlight the role of grassroots programs in supporting refugee children through sport.
While the campaign launches nationally today, UNHCR is also preparing for a major global activation on May 19, which will further elevate refugee athlete stories internationally as excitement builds toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
To learn more, visit More Than a Game.
Note to Editors / Photo Opportunity
Media are invited to attend the Surrey, B.C. community visit on May 12 at 15:15 PDT at Frank Hurt Secondary School, 13940 77 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 7V7. Interview opportunities with Tracey Maulfair, UNHCR Representative in Canada, and Dacious Richardson, community leader and youth mentor, will be available on site.
Media contact:
- Levon Sevunts, sevunts@unhcr.org, (613) 286-6975
