By Afribraz Global Business Magazine – Special Editorial
São Paulo is preparing to host one of the most significant sporting and social events in its recent history. At a time when the world is focused on major international football tournaments, the city will also become the stage for an initiative that goes far beyond the boundaries of the pitch, placing inclusion, diversity, human rights, and social integration at the center of public attention.
The non-governmental organization Identidade Humana Global proudly announces the Migrants and Refugees World Cup 2026, a pioneering event that will bring together representatives of various nationalities who currently live, work, study, and build their futures in Brazil.
Held in parallel with major international sporting events, the tournament will take place during the same period in which North America hosts the Copa América competitions. At the same time, Brazil will make history by hosting, for the very first time, a World Cup dedicated exclusively to migrants and refugees.
The tournament will feature 16 international men’s teams, including Brazil, which will make its debut in this historic edition.
The official motto of the event perfectly captures its spirit:
“It Is Not Just a Game, It Is a Life. We are the New Brazilians, not xenophobic.”
More than a football competition, the tournament celebrates the journeys of thousands of people who have found in Brazil an opportunity for safety, belonging, reconstruction, and hope.
Women’s Football Takes Center Stage
The program begins on June 20, with a friendly match between women’s teams composed of refugees and migrants.
This initiative aims to highlight the role of migrant women in sports, promote equal opportunities, and increase the visibility of women’s football within international communities living in Brazil.
Diversity, Culture, and Sustainable Development
In addition to the matches, the event will provide a multicultural gathering space where communities from different countries can share their traditions, cuisine, music, arts, and life experiences.
The program is closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting discussions related to social inclusion, reducing inequalities, human rights, decent work, and the development of more welcoming and inclusive cities.
The tournament also connects with global sustainability and climate action discussions that will be highlighted during COP30, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in addressing common global challenges.
A Powerful Network of Institutional Cooperation
This edition of the Migrants and Refugees World Cup is co-organized with the City of São Paulo, through the Municipal Secretariat of Sports and Leisure and the Municipal Secretariat of Tourism.
The event is also sponsored by Construtora Tenda, demonstrating the growing commitment of the private sector to diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility initiatives.
Institutional supporters include:
- Government of the State of São Paulo, through the State Secretariat of Sports;
- São Paulo Bar Association, through its Human Rights Commission;
- Public Defender’s Office of the State of São Paulo;
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;
- International Organization for Migration;
- Migrant Pastoral Support Center
- Impacto Saúde;
- Federation of Bolivians United in Brazil;
- State Council for Human Rights of São Paulo;
- Municipal Secretariat of Human Rights and Citizenship of São Paulo.
The broad coalition of partners reflects the growing importance of migration-related issues in Brazil and demonstrates how governments, civil society, international organizations, and private institutions can work together to create opportunities and promote inclusion.
An Invitation to the Media
The organizers warmly invite journalists, reporters, television networks, radio stations, newspapers, digital media outlets, content creators, and journalism students to attend and cover this remarkable event.
It represents a unique opportunity to highlight stories of resilience, courage, achievement, and contribution from people who left their countries of origin and are now helping to build a more diverse, multicultural, and prosperous Brazilian society.
What This Event Means to Afribraz Global Business Magazine
For Afribraz Global Business Magazine, the Migrants and Refugees World Cup represents far more than a sporting event.
It symbolizes the transformative power of migration as a catalyst for economic development, cultural exchange, international cooperation, and social progress.
In today’s interconnected world, migrants and refugees should not be viewed solely as recipients of humanitarian assistance. They are entrepreneurs, innovators, skilled professionals, workers, artists, athletes, investors, and bridge-builders between nations and cultures.
Hosting this World Cup in São Paulo reinforces Brazil’s role as a nation open to diversity and highlights the importance of policies that promote dignity, inclusion, and equal opportunities.
For Afribraz, whose mission includes strengthening relations between Brazil, Africa, the Caribbean, and international communities worldwide, initiatives such as this demonstrate that sport remains one of the most powerful instruments for human integration.
When a football rolls across the field, cultures meet. When migrants wear the colors of their nations, their stories gain a voice. And when society chooses inclusion over division, everyone wins.
The Migrants and Refugees World Cup 2026 arrives to prove that football can be much more than a game; it can be a platform for citizenship, belonging, hope, and human dignity.
Because it is not just a game. It is a life. We are the new Brazilians, not xenophobic.
Leave feedback about this