Perth's Freedom Cup Unites Refugees Through Soccer

When Mayada Ali steps onto the soccer field, she carries her late brother's dream with her.

The 21-year-old Kurdish refugee spent six years in a camp in northern Iraq before arriving in Australia in 2019. Her younger brother Salih dreamed of playing in the World Cup, but he died from cancer before that could happen.

"When he passed away, I lost myself," Ali said. "But I never gave up because I had a vision that I have to continue my brother's dream."

Now she's a women's street soccer coach and a three-time participant in Perth's Freedom Cup, an annual tournament held during Refugee Week. The competition brings refugee communities together in Perth's northern suburbs for friendly matches that celebrate diversity and build lasting friendships.

Ali faced barriers because of her age, gender, religion, and background. But her passion pushed her forward. "When you have passion about something, just do it," she said.

Why This Inspires

Soccer speaks a language that needs no translation. For refugees who have experienced war, displacement, and loss, the sport offers something rare: equal ground where everyone belongs.

Eli Nkindi, who coaches the Burundi men's team, started playing as a young boy in a refugee camp before coming to Australia at age nine. "Football is always a way of expressing ourselves and just another way to kind of enjoy being around other people," he said.

The Freedom Cup coincides with Refugee Week 2026, themed "a million stories" to mark one million Australian humanitarian visas issued since World War II. Each player brings their own journey—some long, some difficult, all filled with resilience.

For Ali, her team has become more than just teammates. "This team is my second home," she said. "We are growing up as a family each day."

Western Australia's Minister for Multicultural Interests Tony Buti said the Cup celebrates the contributions refugees have made to the state. It's proof that sport can break down barriers and build the kind of connections that make communities stronger.

On the field, backgrounds fade and something universal takes over—the simple joy of playing the game you love alongside people who understand.