Tournament at a glance
• What: IV International Senior Football Tournament against Racism and Discrimination
• When: 29 November, from 10:00 (final at 12:00)
• Where: Ciudad Deportiva de Areitio, Campo 1 (Eibar, Spain)
• Who: United Nations Geneva Football Club, Athletic Club, Real Sociedad and SD Eibar
• Organizers: SD Eibar Foundation and UN Geneva FC, with the collaboration of Athletic Club and Real Sociedad.
Organized by SD Eibar Foundation together with United Nations Geneva Football Club and with the collaboration of Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, the tournament brings together sport, inclusion and social commitment, highlighting football as a powerful tool in the fight against racism and discrimination and in favour of respect and peaceful coexistence.
Four teams, one message
The tournament will feature four senior teams:
• United Nations Geneva Football Club
• Athletic Club
• Real Sociedad
• SD Eibar
Players from different backgrounds and experiences will share the same pitch and the same message: there is no place for racism or discrimination, on or off the field. The tournament reflects values central to the United Nations: equality, dignity, diversity and mutual respect, and turns them into something visible and tangible for local communities and participating clubs alike.
Tournament format and schedule
Designed as a compact, high intensity event, the tournament will use a round robin format:
• All four teams will play each other in matches of 30 minutes.
• The top two teams in the standings will qualify for the final, which will determine the tournament winner.
The action will unfold over a single morning at the Ciudad Deportiva de Areitio:
• 10:00 – Start of the tournament and first matches
• 12:00 – Final, followed by the medal ceremony and presentation of the winner’s trophy
Beyond the competition itself, the day is conceived as a meeting point: a space to build bridges between clubs and communities, share experiences and reaffirm a collective commitment to combating racism and all forms of discrimination.
A growing international tradition
This will be the fourth edition of the International Senior Football Tournament against Racism and Discrimination. Previous editions were held in:
• Nyon, Switzerland – 2016 and 2018
• Tabarka, Tunisia – 2019
Over the years, the tournament has become a platform for awareness raising and international engagement, using football to spark conversations about discrimination, prejudice and inclusion.
The participation of leading Basque clubs: SD Eibar, Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, alongside United Nations Geneva Football Club underlines the global nature of the initiative and its ambition to continue growing as an annual reference point in defence of equality and respect.
Areitio: a new home for social commitment through sport
Hosting this edition at the new Ciudad Deportiva de Areitio marks an important step in SD Eibar’s commitment to social responsibility. By opening its facilities to a tournament with a clear human rights focus, the club and its foundation reaffirm their dedication to building a more just and inclusive society.
For the United Nations community, the partnership with SD Eibar Foundation and the Basque clubs demonstrates how cooperation with local actors can bring UN values to life in very concrete ways: in this case, 11 players at a time, on a football pitch, united against racism and discrimination.