Last week in Sheffield, the annual Belonging Together Cup turned the U-Mix Centre into a celebration of community, and the power of football to unite people across backgrounds. Organised by FURD, the event brought together over 120 participants representing youth groups, refugee and asylum seekers, local clubs, and grassroots initiatives from across the city.

The Belonging Together Cup has become one of FURD’s cornerstone events, an example of its mission to use football as a tool for inclusion and social cohesion. Set against a backdrop of growing social divisions and daily stories demonising immigrants across the UK, the Cup offers a joyful reminder that belonging can be built through shared experiences and simple acts of solidarity on the pitch.

“It’s not just about the goals, it’s about being part of something bigger,” said one young participant, who had arrived in Sheffield less than a year ago. “When we play, we feel equal. Everyone understands football.”

This year’s event was hosted in collaboration with Sheffield United FC; local councillors, coaches, and community representatives attended to support the initiative.

The Cup featured mixed-age teams and encouraged integration, rather than competition, as its main goal. Between matches, teams joined informal workshops and shared meals, with conversations about identity, and community. Young players spoke about their journeys to Sheffield and the challenges of adapting to life in a new country.

For many of them, football has become a language of confidence and connection. One player described FURD as “a place where people see you for who you are, not where you’re from.”

Impact Beyond the Pitch

FURD’s impact extends beyond the tournament itself. The organisation runs regular coaching sessions, mentoring schemes, and educational workshops that use football as a gateway to personal growth and civic participation. At the U-Mix Centre, young people find a safe, inclusive space where they can build friendships, access support, and feel a sense of belonging that may be missing elsewhere in their lives.

Research from similar FURD initiatives shows the benefits: increased self-esteem, stronger cross-cultural understanding, and a reduction in social isolation. The event’s name, Belonging Together, was chosen deliberately to highlight that inclusion is an active process: it’s something that must be built and renewed.

Many of the young people who participate in FURD’s programmes come from conflict-affected regions, including Syria, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Eritrea, and arrive in the UK with little more than resilience and hope.

Football becomes a bridge between past and present, home and host country. “When I first came here, I didn’t know anyone,” said a 17-year-old. “But through football, I met friends, learned English, and started to feel like I belonged.”

These journeys are central to FURD’s philosophy. The Cup isn’t about who wins, but every handshake, every shared goal, and every cheer from the sidelines contributes to something bigger: a community with more belonging, greater acceptance and a positive vision for the future.