One Year After the Global Refugee Forum 2023

Sport has the power to transform lives, unite communities, and create pathways to opportunity. One year after the Global Refugee Forum 2023, a new initiative is breaking barriers in football by ensuring underrepresented communities—including ethnic minorities and women—have access to meaningful careers in the sport.

Through a groundbreaking inclusion project, football associations and clubs are not just talking about diversity; they are actively reshaping recruitment, mentorship, and career development programs to bring fresh talent into the game.

A Game-Changer for Diversity in Football

Historically, football governance and management roles have remained inaccessible to many, especially refugees, ethnic minorities, and women. Recognizing this gap, a collaborative initiative—rooted in the commitments made at the Global Refugee Forum 2023—has taken action.

With an open and flexible eligibility framework, the initiative connects passionate individuals with structured career pathways in football. This includes:

• Internship and work placement programs within national football associations and clubs
• Mentorship pairings with industry leaders to provide career guidance
• A recruitment platform designed to match trained individuals with job opportunities in football
• A standardized DEI assessment tool to help clubs and associations evaluate their inclusion progress

Stories of Impact: From Training to Employment

For Amina, a refugee from Syria, the dream of working in football felt distant. “I loved the game, but I never saw people like me in leadership roles,” she shares. Through the initiative’s mentorship program, Amina was connected with a football executive, gained hands-on experience in club management, and is now on a pathway toward a full-time career in the sport.

Similarly, David, a young man from a marginalized community in Europe, found himself struggling to break into the industry despite his qualifications. Thanks to the recruitment platform, he secured an internship with a national football association, turning his passion into a profession.