Unity EURO Cup: Arjin’s story
Thursday, October 8, 2026
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Kurdish refugee Arjin Zarin explains how football helped him to overcome isolation and find a sense of community and belonging after he fled to Greece.
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Football has been a big part of Arjin Zarin’s life since he was a child. Indeed, in his hometown in Mahabad, he captained his local football team for seven years and organised tournaments that brought together around 30 sides from the region.
When he was forced to flee his home and move to Greece as an asylum-seeker, many of the foundations of his everyday life were suddenly gone.
"When I had to leave my home and rebuild my life in Greece, I lost many familiar things," he explains. "I missed my friends, my relatives and the simple feeling of belonging somewhere.
"I also missed football where it always played a significant role in my life – not only playing the game, but the friendship, laughter and responsibility that came with being part of a team."
The Unity EURO Cup
The fifth edition of the Unity EURO Cup will take place on 15 October at the Italian Football Federation's technical centre in Florence. It is more than just a football tournament – it's a celebration of our sport's power to unite communities, regardless of background. Organised by UEFA in collaboration with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, teams made up of refugees and players from their host communities compete in a mixed-gender event that puts the floodlights on sport’s vital role in facilitating social inclusion.
Building a new sense of home
Faced with a loss of familiarity and belonging, Arjin once again turned to football and its ability to bring people together from all walks of life through a common, unspoken language.
Later this month he will take part in his third Unity EURO Cup, in which refugees and players from their host communities compete for their countries.
"Joining Team Greece changed something important for me," he explains. "When we travelled to Switzerland for the Unity EURO Cup in 2024, I remember sitting on the bus with teammates from different countries and backgrounds, sharing personal challenges and talking about how they had survived difficult times.
"Then we began singing and laughing together. For me, that moment was very emotional. Even after losing your home, you can build a new sense of home with other people."
Changing perceptions of refugees
The Hellenic Football Federation is committed to supporting integration in and through football, and Team Greece is a regular at the Unity EURO Cup. The competition holds a special place for participants and highlights football’s role in supporting social inclusion and a feeling of belonging.
"For me, the Unity EURO Cup represents much more than a tournament," Arjin says. "It represents inclusion, dignity and opportunity. It shows that refugees are not only people who need support; we also bring skills, experience, leadership and ideas to our new communities."
"Even after losing your home, you can build a new sense of home with other people."
Helping others through similar experiences
Having gone through the experience of isolation and loss of community, Arjin is determined to ensure that others going through a similar situation do not have to do so alone.
"My hope is to continue using football, communication and my lived experience to support other refugees and vulnerable communities," he says. "I want people who feel alone in a new country to know that they have something to offer. Sometimes it starts with football."
One way he has been able to achieve this is by guiding other refugees on the path to employment, which can often prove very difficult.
"Since 2020, I have voluntarily helped more than 20 refugees with CVs, motivation letters, LinkedIn profiles and job searches," he says. "I remember that, when I needed help, someone was there for me. I feel a responsibility to give that support back whenever I can."
Arjin’s goal is to continue to use the power of sport to help people through one of the most difficult times of their lives and to ensure they have the support and confidence to build a new life.
"Sport cannot solve every problem, but it can create an important first step," Arjin says. "It can reduce isolation, support mental wellbeing, create friendships and help people feel more confident to participate in society.
"It gave me a space where I was not first seen as a refugee, but as a teammate."
Ahead of the 2026 Unity EURO Cup, we are sharing the stories of refugees taking part and exploring how football has helped them build new lives