New York: Europe and the Arabs

The United Nations headquarters in New York witnessed a sporting movement ahead of World Football Day on May 25, as the organization's leaders met with prominent figures from the world of football, including Nasser Al Khori, Executive Director of Generation Amazing Qatar. This meeting was part of the "Football for Sustainable Development Goals" Forum, which focused on harnessing the global influence of football to unite audiences in support of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
In an interview with UN News, Mr. Nasser Al Khori said that Generation Amazing was launched in 2010 as part of Qatar's bid to host the 2022 World Cup. He noted that the organization did not stop after the tournament, but rather continued to support sport as a tool for achieving sustainable development.
Nasser Al Khori explained that the organization began its work by building stadiums in refugee camps and marginalized communities in Jordan and Lebanon, and then expanded its programs to reach 75 countries around the world – in cooperation with United Nations organizations, football federations, and civil society organizations. He noted that more than one million people have benefited from the organization's programs. According to the foundation's website, Generation Amazing has built 30 football pitches in marginalized and underserved communities across the Middle East and Asia.
Partnership with the United Nations
Nasser Al Khori said that Generation Amazing has partnered with the United Nations since 2022 and is part of the UN initiative known as "Football for the Sustainable Development Goals," which the UN defines as "a platform through which the global football community engages to work on, advocate for, and leverage sustainability practices."
Al Khori added, "We are proud to be a member of the Football for the SDGs initiative, which allows us to work alongside global partners to support the achievement of the SDGs through sport."
In celebration of World Football Day—which this year focuses on the transformative power of the game—Al Khori highlighted football's contribution to building bridges between communities. He added, "Football is a universal language that unites people regardless of their backgrounds. At Generation Amazing, we see daily how football can create safe spaces for dialogue and promote values ​​of respect, solidarity, and peace despite differences."
Al-Khori cited the Generation Amazing Youth Festival held in Doha, which brought together young people from around the world to share experiences and discuss the Sustainable Development Goals.
He said, "A cultural exchange took place between the youth, and they are still in touch with each other. Some of the youth have created their own initiatives based on the experiences they learned in Doha and are now building sports programs in their communities."
According to the foundation, the Generation Amazing Youth Festival focuses on football for development and brings together people aged 16 to 25.
Regarding women's empowerment through sport, Al-Khori explained that the foundation believes in the importance of providing an inclusive and safe environment that allows both girls and boys the opportunity to participate and thrive, "while respecting the customs and traditions of the communities in which we operate." He continued, "For example, we sent a women's delegation to represent the foundation at the 23rd Festival, held on the sidelines of the Women's World Cup. We also supported the 'La'betha' (Her Game) Festival in Morocco, a festival dedicated entirely to girls. In Jordan, we established a closed club in the Al-Baqa'a area so that girls and women could practice sports freely and in an environment that respects the privacy of the local community."
Yemen and the Stadium of Dreams
In another file, the UN News Bulletin stated that every summer in Marib, something exceptional happens under the scorching desert sun. In a place plagued by loss and uncertainty, a football tournament offers rare hope. For hundreds of displaced youth living in more than a dozen different locations, this tournament is an opportunity to unite, feel a sense of belonging, and dream.
The tournament is organized by the International Organization for Migration, but it is more than just a sporting event—it is a lifeline. In Marib Governorate, where more than 2.3 million displaced people have settled, families live in temporary shelters, often after having been displaced more than once. Water is scarce, the heat is harsh, and access to education and healthcare is extremely limited. Under these conditions, the chances of a 'normal' childhood, let alone opportunities to play and have fun, are minimal.
However, when the referee blows the whistle and the ball starts rolling, everything changes. On the field, children and youth are not defined by their war stories; they become teammates, competitors, and determined athletes, focused solely on the game.
This year's tournament brought together youth from more than a dozen displacement sites, including Salwa, Ramseh, and As-Suwayda. In places of isolation and daily stress, the matches created a sense of community and belonging.
Hundreds of players registered and participated, despite limited equipment and resources. Among these players is Bashir, a 26-year-old who was displaced from his home and now lives in the heart of the Salwa displacement site. Standing next to his sun-scorched, wind-lashed tent, he says, "This is my home now, right here, in the middle of Salwa Camp." Like other young men in Marib's displacement sites, Bashir bears more than just responsibility for his own future. He is the sixth of seven children and the only one with a steady income. He works daily on a minibus, ferrying people back and forth around the city from early morning until late afternoon. At best, he returns home with 20,000 Yemeni riyals, barely enough to cover food expenses.

His personal plans have been indefinitely postponed. He was engaged to be married three years ago, but he hasn't taken any steps toward marriage. "I simply don't have the money," he says. Everything he earns goes to his family.
Yet, he never misses matches. For Bashir, football isn't just a way to forget, it's an escape. A rare moment of focus and joy in a life dominated by duty and the struggle for survival.
"Football takes me to another world," Bashir says. "When I play, I forget everything."
Jamal Al-Shami, a field assistant with the organization and one of the tournament organizers for three years, says.
Beyond the excitement, the tournament has had a deeper impact. In focus groups conducted by the organization's teams in displacement sites, the same message was repeatedly heard from parents and youth: displacement negatively impacts mental health. Life in the camps is full of stress and isolation. But sport—and football in particular—offers young people a way to reconnect with themselves and with each other. “When people are forced to flee, they leave everything behind, including the things they love,” Jamal says. “That’s why these activities are important. They help people relax and reconnect with what they love.”
This joy extended beyond the players. Fans gathered on the sidelines, cheering every goal. Commentators added excitement to the matches with their powerful commentary. Even camp managers stopped their work to watch the games. For a few hours each day, the camps felt like a different place—louder, lighter, and more alive.
The success of this tournament is a reminder of the needs of displaced communities. They need not only food, water, and shelter, but also dignity, and something for people to aim for and aspire to. As the waves of displacement continue to reach Marib, IOM is working to strengthen mental health and social support on the ground. This includes sports activities, youth clubs, and cultural events.
In this context, football is more than just a game. It's a reminder of identity, a means of healing, and a glimpse of normalcy in a place that rarely feels like normal.
The football tournament in Marib was held with support from the European Union Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Team and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), as part of IOM's broader camp management and coordination activities.