LFC Foundation and Islamic Relief UK brought together refugee football teams from across the UK last week for a special refugee football tournament celebrating inclusion, and community through sport as part of National Refugee Week.

The tournament welcomed around 120 refugee players across eight teams representing communities from across the country, including:

• LFC Foundation
• Big Hearts (Heart of Midlothian FC)
• Leeds United Foundation
• Blackburn Rovers Community Trust
• Newcastle United Foundation
• Wirral Change
• Hope United

The event highlighted the important role sport can play in promoting inclusion, wellbeing and a sense of belonging for people rebuilding their lives in the UK.

Hosted by the LFC Foundation, the tournament created a positive and inclusive environment where players, volunteers and supporters came together to celebrate diversity and resilience.

Nadeem Baqr, UK programmes manager, Islamic Relief UK, said: "Football has a unique ability to bring people together regardless of language, culture or background. This tournament was about much more than sport – it was about creating opportunities for connection, building confidence and ensuring refugees feel welcomed and valued within our communities. We are proud to have partnered with LFC Foundation to deliver an event that celebrated the strength, talent and resilience of refugee communities from across the UK."

Matt Parish, Chief Executive of the LFC Foundation added: "Here at the LFC Foundation we strive to provide opportunities for the whole community. Our partnership with Islamic Relief allows us to do that and the success of this tournament was another example of the positive impact being made in the Liverpool City Region and beyond.”

The tournament forms part of ongoing efforts by both organisations to support refugees and asylum seekers such as working together to provide food hampers as well as through football and educational programmes to communities in the Liverpool City Region.