Latvia’s refugee team win Unity EURO Cup for the second time

Latvia’s refugee team won the Unity EURO Cup in Italy on Thursday, claiming the title for the second time after their 2024 success. The side, made up of Latvian and Ukrainian players, beat Ireland 2-1 in the final.

Latvia opened the tournament with three wins against Romania, Albania and Austria. They then defeated Czechia 4-1 in the knockout stage and beat Romania 7-1 before the final. They were one of two teams among the 22 entrants to win all three of their opening matches.

The squad comprised seven Ukrainians and four Latvians, including three women. The team finished fifth on its debut in 2023, won in 2024 and reached the semi-finals last year, losing to eventual champions Finland. Preparation for this year’s tournament began in May, with 22 training sessions involving 431 participants.

Source: lff.lv