Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The UEFA Foundation for Children invited 50 young people from its partner organizations Bonyan and Kızlar Sahada to attend the UEFA Europa League final in Istanbul. Many of these children participated in a meet-and-greet session with players from Arsenal and Freiburg before the match. Additionally, 22 children walked out as player mascots at Beşiktaş Park, an initiative supported by the UEFA Foundation and Europa League partner Lidl.
The Bonyan Organization is a non-profit that supports war-affected communities and refugees across the Middle East. It runs sport-for-development projects in Türkiye, focusing on creating long-term access to sport for both host communities and Syrian refugees. These initiatives promote inclusion and gender equality through football, life-skills training, and environmental activities aimed at empowering young people in safer environments.
Kızlar Sahada, meaning ‘Girls on the Field,’ is an initiative that uses football to address gender stereotypes and increase opportunities for girls and women in Türkiye. Supported by funding from the UEFA Foundation, its RePlay Project provides free football activities for boys and girls in Şanlıurfa, including match play and training. The project also works with families, schools, and local governments to challenge restrictive gender norms and cultivate a supportive environment for girls’ participation in football.
Since its inception in 2015, the UEFA Foundation for Children has supported 765 projects across 156 countries, improving the lives of more than 4.9 million children. Currently, 166 initiatives use sport to advance education, health, inclusion, and personal development, as the foundation continues its social impact mission into its second decade.