From refugee camp to World Cup captain: Alphonso Davies’ journey
How safety, opportunity and support turned a refugee child into the captain of Canada’s national team
18 Jun 2026
Photo credit: © UNHCR/Pat Calderwood
With the 2026 World Cup now underway, Alphonso Davies sat down to reflect on the road that led him to the captaincy of the Canadian national team.
I’m a professional footballer for Bayern Munich and captain of Canada’s men’s national team. Every time I play for my country, I can see the smiles on my parents’ faces and how proud they are of me.
But my story didn’t begin on a football pitch. It began in a refugee camp in Ghana.
My parents were forced to flee the war in Liberia and found safety in Buduburam refugee camp. I don’t remember the conflict, but my parents lived through the fear and uncertainty of not knowing what would happen next.
When I was five years old, with the support of UNHCR, my family and I were resettled to Canada. This country means so much to me, it’s a place that has given my family safety and welcomed us in with open arms.
It gave me the opportunity to be who I am and to be what I want in life.
From playing in Edmonton, signing for Bayern Munich, to representing Canada and scoring our country’s first ever goal at a FIFA Men’s World Cup – that feeling of pride is something I can’t describe.
But I carry my past with me. Every time I step on the pitch, I play for my family and for those refugees needing safety.
When you give refugees an opportunity, they don’t just survive – they thrive.
That’s why I’m proud to captain UNHCR’s Gamechanging team and to stand alongside this symbolic team of players who all have a personal connection with being forced to flee.
Together, we’re showing what’s possible when displaced young people are given safety and a chance to build a future.
If you believe in this too, please add your name to show your support and help change the game for displaced children.
Thank you for reading my story and for standing with children and families searching for safety and a place to belong.
To find out more about UNHCR’s Gamechanging team and the actions you can take to support forcibly displaced people around the world, visit our website here.
