The tournament brings together teams of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and local players from over 50 countries in a celebration of football and community.

The seven-a-side event began in 2012 as the Refugee Football Festival but has grown to become a key date in Scotland’s community sports calendar.

This year’s event, organised by Glasgow Afghan United, will see more than 250 players take part in a day of football at Toryglen Regional Football Centre. For the first time, the tournament will also include a women’s competition.

Twenty-four teams will compete for the Refugee World Cup 2026 title. The second, third and fourth-placed teams in each group will play for different cups: the Unity Cup, Equality Cup and Peace Cup.

The tournament was launched last month at Hampden by former Scotland internationals Colin Hendry and Jackie McNamara, who were both part of the national squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Abdul Bostani, managing director of Glasgow Afghan United FC and organiser of the Refugee World Cup Scotland 2026, said: “The Refugee World Cup is a showcase of grassroots football and a celebration of community.

“Through football we seek to encourage society to view refugees, asylum seekers and migrants not as statistics or newspaper headlines, but rather as real, human individuals. Scotland is a welcoming society which has for many generations opened its arms to people from across the world, becoming New Scots and enriching the fabric of Scotland’s culture, society and economy.

“One day I hope to see New Scots proudly pulling on the dark blue shirt of Scotland to represent the country that gave them a new life, a new home and a new hope.”

The Refugee World Cup Scotland 2026 is supported by Wheatley Group and Glasgow Life.

Steven Henderson, Wheatley chief executive, said: “We’re proud to once again sponsor the Refugee World Cup Scotland this summer. The competition plays an important role in bringing people together - not just those taking part, but communities from across Glasgow and beyond. It creates a sense of belonging, connection and shared experience, which is at the heart of what strong communities are all about.

“With this shaping up to be a big summer of football for Scotland, it feels especially fitting to support an event that celebrates football and the power it has to unite people from all walks of life.”

The Refugee World Cup Scotland 2026 takes place on Sunday, 21 June at Toryglen Regional Football Centre between 12pm and 5pm.