In 2023 we formed the inaugural #SheBelongs Team made up of 22 ambitious refugee and non-refugee young women to visit New Zealand for the Women’s World Cup and share our message of unity and equality. (Watch our documentary film here.)

This successful, life-changing experience has inspired and compelled us to expand the scope of #SheBelongs globally. We will be holding our first ever #SheBelongs Global Cup in 2025 in Madrid, Spain! (See Press Release here.)

BASIC INFORMATION

TIMELINE

THE PROCESS

Learn | Apply | Qualify | Advance | Celebrate

Just like anything special in life, joining the #Shebelongs Global Cup is a big commitment! The commitment will certainly be worth it but it is one that is best met by being fully aware of what will be asked of you. Please read overview of the process below.

LEARN

The 2025 #SheBelongs Global Cup will be held in Madrid, Spain. Teams will be formed of a maximum of 22 refugee and non-refugee young women from four regions around the world, North America | Europe | Middle East | Asia-Pacific. (See list of eligible countries by region here).

Each team will compete virtually against the other teams in their region during the qualifying period. At the end of the period the top team from each of the four regions will be invited to travel to Madrid, Spain in Spring 2025 (actual dates TBD) to compete in the first ever Global Cup.

If you are interested in the chance to apply for the Cup please fully complete the form on this page right away: https://shebelongs.org/globalcup/interest

APPLY

Once you have completed the LEARN stage above by indicating your interest here, our team will reach out to your representative to coordinate the application process. Only teams that meet the initial requirements will be invited to apply for the Cup.

QUALIFY

Those teams who apply and are invited to the QUALIFYING stage will compete virtually against other teams in their region during the term. Teams will perform weekly activities as a team and as individuals centered around School, Service, and Soccer. The approved activities and their corresponding points will be detailed in the 2025 Global Cup Operations Manual provided to the invited teams. During this phase we will regularly report team points and regional standings on our website and social media platforms.

ADVANCE

Once the QUALIFYING stage ends we will officially announce the regional winners and invite them to the Cup in Madrid. Our team at #SheBelongs headquarters will work closely with each winning team to prepare for the Cup including travel logistics, uniforms, fundraising, etc.

CELEBRATE

The 2025 Global Cup will be a celebration of the power and potential of women. The Cup will be a tournament style competition that takes place over 5-7 days in Spain. Each team will play a minimum of 5 games, starting with Group Play and ending with Championship and Consolation matches. During the time in Madrid, every participant will have the chance to meet with government leaders, local and international media, local soccer teams, as well as perform service for marginalized communities in and around Madrid.

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FUNDRAISING

Based on the experience with the 2023 Team we expect that the costs to run the 2025 Global Cup from start to finish will approach $1MM USD. We believe that this is an insignificant sum compared with the value we will create together with hundreds of young women and the thousands of people who support and love them.

So, in order to make the Cup happen with the highest level of quality, safety, and operational effectiveness worthy of the participants we will take a team approach to raising the necessary funds with contributions from each of the sources below.

PLAYER | TEAM | TEAM COMMUNITY | #SHEBELONGS HQ

The % of contribution will depend on the financial capacity of each source and will be coordinated closely with #SheBelongs HQ. Everyone will have to contribute something but no one will be denied participation because of financial challenges. We are in this together. More details will follow during the APPLY phase.

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We are honored to operate this Global Cup on behalf of all girls, women, and displaced people around the world. And we know that the Cup is only as effective and memorable as the humans who make it happen. And that includes YOU. If you think this commitment is one you and your teammates are ready to make then please let us know right away by filling out the form here and let’s get going! See you soon!