Finding hope on the pitch after fleeing war

Forced to flee war twice as a child, Asmir Begović shares how football became his refuge, carried him to the World Cup and now drives his commitment to protecting and empowering displaced children with UNHCR.

During the Bosnian War, 2.2 million people were forced to flee their homes, with 1.2 million seeking asylum across more than 100 countries.

I was one of them.

I’ve been a refugee twice in my life — once at the age of four, and again when I was ten.

After fleeing what was formerly Yugoslavia, me and my family found safety in Germany before having to move to Canada a few years later.

My parents had both been professionals – my dad a goalkeeper, my mum studying to become a lawyer – but suddenly they were working in a factory instead.

That’s how quickly your life can be turned upside down.

Me and my brother were so young that we didn’t know what was really going on but I remember little snippets of dark nights in cars and on boats.

The one constant I had as a child was football.

When I was on a football pitch, I was playing with other kids and friends. I wasn’t thinking about what was going on back home or the difficulties we were going through. 

Football has provided so many opportunities for me, and I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a long career, largely in England. The proudest moment of that journey came in 2014, when I represented Bosnia at our first-ever World Cup since independence. 

I am honoured to be part of UNHCR’s Gamechanging team, made up of players from around the world who, like me, have experience of displacement. 

Together, we represent hope, courage and what’s possible when people forced to flee war and persecution are met with safety, opportunity and welcome.

My teammates and I believe in a world where every displaced child can find safety and the chance to reach their full potential.  

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. 

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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.