Case 1: Warsaw 1
Name of project / programme:
Year of start / opening:
Country:
Target group:
Age:
City size:
Type of sport:
Etnoliga
2005
Poland
refugees, ethnic minority, women, social-economically disadvantaged
youth, adults
more than 100.000 inhabitants
Ball games (soccer)
Content of project / programme
Short description:
Etnoliga is a grassroots football initiative based in Warsaw, Poland, founded in 2005. It promotes multicultural integration and inclusion through sport. Open to people of various nationalities, genders, and backgrounds, the project uses football as a tool for social connection and community building.
Long description:
Etnoliga is a long-standing intercultural football league that began in 2005 with a one-time tournament for Chechen and African refugees and Polish students. Due to growing interest, the league became a regular programme, launching a full season in 2010. Etnoliga is organized by the Fundacja dla Wolności (Freedom Foundation) and has since evolved into a multifaceted initiative integrating migrants, refugees, and local residents through football.
Matches are played in mixed-gender and multinational teams, with league regulations requiring a minimum of three nationalities and at least two women per team. Participation is free of charge, reducing barriers for individuals with lower socioeconomic status. Fair play and social contributions (like volunteer activity) are rewarded through a points system.
Etnoliga currently hosts over 700 regular participants from more than 60 countries, including Ukraine, Nigeria, Colombia, and Turkey. Many participants come from marginalised backgrounds, including asylum seekers who have limited access to other public activities. The project’s accessibility and open format make it one of the few options for such individuals to actively engage in a social environment.
The initiative is also accompanied by training academies for children, social events, cultural exchanges, and collaborative workshops. Its junior academy began in 2012, originally focused on children from the Caucasus, and now includes many young Ukrainian refugees.
Etnoliga has received international recognition, including a UEFA Grassroots Award in 2020. It partners with several institutions such as the Fare Network, PZPN, and the City of Warsaw. The project is deeply embedded in local networks and exemplifies how sport can function as a vehicle for intercultural dialogue, inclusion, and urban cohesion.
Aspects of good practice:
Etnoliga is considered a good practice because:
- it successfully reaches its diverse and marginalised target groups;
- it removes participation barriers by being entirely free of charge;
- It is consistently organized (30th edition in 2025, despite the model of financing NGO initiatives in Poland, focusing on a new projects)
- it builds inter-sectoral and intercultural networks, engaging local governments, NGOs, and international partners;
- it promotes gender equality and social inclusion through mandatory mixed-gender teams and inclusive policies;
- it combines sport with broader educational and integration objectives;
- it is embedded in an ecosystem of social, cultural, and educational activities;
it has been recognised by international organisations for its innovative approach to inclusion through sport.