From 8 to 10 May 2026, Laboma Beach in Accra will stage the inaugural edition of the #OneHumanity International Beach Soccer Cup, an international sporting event organized under the umbrella of the Sport for #OneHumanity campaign led by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in collaboration with Beach Soccer Worldwide. Blending elite beach soccer competition with a powerful global message of intercultural dialogue, inclusion and peace, the tournament embodies UNAOC’s mission to foster understanding and solidarity through the unifying force of sport.
The competition will feature four men’s national teams competing in a round-robin format, bringing athletes from different regions and cultures. Ghana, Nigeria and Germany have been confirmed as participants, with the remaining team to be announced soon.
As part of UNAOC’s broader advocacy and outreach efforts to harness sport as a catalyst for promoting intercultural dialogue, understanding and mutual respect, the event was officially announced 6 February during a press conference in the Accra Sports Stadium. The launch spotlighted the tournament’s values-driven framework — fostering social inclusion, community empowerment and intercultural engagement through sport — while also highlighting Ghana’s role in strengthening sport’s contribution to sustainable development at the community level.
Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Director General of the National Sports Authority, described the event as both timely and strategic. “Beach soccer offers a unique opportunity to activate our coastline while showcasing Ghana’s readiness to host world-class international sporting events,” he said, underscoring his country’s growing ambition in the global sports arena.
Banasco Nuhu Seidu, Executive Director of NASCO Feeding Minds and Lead Organiser, highlighted the broader impact of the tournament. “This is more than a tournament. It is about legacy, opportunity, and using sport to unite communities and inspire young people,” he noted.
Fatou Diallo Ndiaye, UN Resident Coordinator a.i. in Ghana and Head of Mission, IOM highlighted UNAOC’s global mandate. “The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations works globally to build bridges between cultures, counter polarization, and promote dialogue, mutual respect, and social cohesion,” she stated. “Sport has a unique power to bring people together across borders, cultures, and beliefs, and can serve as a platform for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening partnerships, and fostering unity and shared human values.”
Mr. Yaw Gyamfi Kusi Awere, Chairman of the GFA Beach Soccer Committee, emphasized the importance of international exposure. “This tournament provides vital international experience for our players and strengthens Ghana’s place within the global beach soccer ecosystem,” he said.
Beyond the competition itself, the #OneHumanity International Beach Soccer Cup will place strong emphasis on community- based activities, including beach soccer clinics, youth workshops, and activities for children and young people from disadvantaged communities. These activities will emphasize inclusion, respect, mutual understanding, reflecting sport’s capacity to foster social cohesion and support the realization of core values of the Sport for #OneHumanity campaign.
As part of the UNAOC’s Sport for #OneHumanity campaign, the tournament illustrates how international sporting events can combine athletic competition and community engagement to support more inclusive and peaceful societies in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Through partnerships with international and national sport governing bodies, institutions and grassroots organizations, the campaign demonstrates how sport can contribute to more inclusive, resilient and cohesive societies.
