OFFSET YOUR WORLD CUP TRAVEL WITH GREENERTRAVEL
Date: 27th June 2026
Yet another world cup in Glasgow by Donald C Stewart
Sunday the 21st of June is the longest day in the calendar, the summer solstice, a time where Scottish fans after recovering from the game against Morocco let their wounds look out into the future, giving hope yet another chance.
On that day, in the heart of Glasgow, teams will play for the Unity Cup, the Equality Cup, and the Peace Cup as well as one team being crowned world champions.
That’s right, a world cup has come directly to Glasgow. To be precise it comes to the Toryglen Sports Centre. The Refugee World Cup with 24 teams competing includes representatives of over 50 countries of refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants and local players began as a seven-a-side tournament in the UK in 2012. The Refugee Football Festival has grown and grown to the point now that it is one of the biggest events in the Scottish community sports calendar.
This year, having been launched by Colin Hendry, Jackie McNamara and Abdul Bostani who is behind Afghan United – a club based in the centre of Glasgow – were ready for teams to take the stage and show once again what a refugee welcoming city Glasgow is.
Football is all about inclusion and it shows how significant a part of its makeup that people fleeing torture and war coming to Scotland is to be embraced.
It is certainly a very different narrative than the one that you see constantly in the media with marauding gangs with balaclavas hide their faces behind chants with opinions thrust down the thrapples of everybody in their vicinity. Or they bang on windows and point at ethnically diverse shopkeepers causing concern. Or they inadvertently imprison diverse ethnicities in their homes for fear that if they go onto the streets that they’re going to be attacked.
Instead football, a welcoming sport, like with The Tartan Army, has the ability to rise above the hooliganism of others.
But let’s not get twisted we have had our own problem on the terraces. Recently young Ultras have challenged our ideas around getting them engaged and involved. Most of the are brand new, but some have maybe taken the idea of being outside the norm too far.
But on this occasion the doors are open the Refugee World Cup welcomed one and welcomed all.
As America welcomes Iraq or Iran or Egypt or Morocco or wherever it is that people flee from oppression I wonder just exactly who’s going to lift which cup and so…
From Afghan United’s Facebook pages…
“In the 12 years since we launched our annual football tournament, the GAU team had only won once – until now! It was tough competition but our team secured the Refugee World Cup Scotland trophy at Toryglen. Congratulations boys on your incredible achievement
Well Foundation meant business at the Refugee World Cup Scotland – and played their way to winning the Unity Cup!
Unity is a key value of the tournament, which stands for inclusion, integration and diversity. Thank you to everyone who took part and shared in our vision of a diverse, secure Scotland where everyone can thrive, regardless of their background.
Wheatley Group put on an amazing performance at this year’s Refugee World Cup Scotland and lifted the Equality Cup. Congratulations to the team!
And the winners are… Cathkin Blazes! This talented team won our inaugural women’s section at this year’s Refugee World Cup Scotland.
We’re delighted to have expanded the tournament and look forward to more women’s football action when we return next year. Congratulations Cathkin Blazes”
Posted in: Fan's Blog, Latest News
Tags: Glasgow, oor Donald, Scotland, World Cup