Build Community through Sport for Girls in Jordan

Last week, Jordan celebrated a historic milestone, playing in its first-ever FIFA World Cup, while neighboring Iraq (one of the countries that RC’s participants and coaches come from) marked its return to the tournament after a 40-year absence. This spring, as excitement built across the region for soccer’s biggest stage, we brought that energy to the grassroots level.

In April and May, Reclaim Childhood hosted two community tournaments, creating opportunities for girls from across our programs and partner organizations to come together through sport, friendship, and play.

The first event took place in Zarqa, where teams from RC’s hub sites in Zarqa and Mafraq were joined by participants from GAME Mafraq, AECF, and Terres des Hommes. A few weeks later, in coordination with World Football Giving Day, we headed to Amman, bringing together teams from RC’s Amman and Madaba hubs alongside partners Collateral Repair Project, Squash Dreamers, PACES, and Operation Mercy.

Across both events, the atmosphere reflected everything that makes soccer special. From one match to the next, the field was full of energy, teamwork, and connection. Girls had the opportunity to challenge themselves, build confidence, meet new people, and experience the excitement of competition in a welcoming and supportive environment.

As we celebrate the power of sport and the joy and diversity of the World Cup teams, we also recognize that June 20 marks World Refugee Day. This year’s theme, “Until We Are All Safe,” is a reminder that safety, belonging, and opportunity should be available to everyone, regardless of where they come from or where their journey has taken them.

That belief is at the core of what RC does. Our summer programming is just around the corner. This year, over 700 girls from 8 nationalities will hit the field across Jordan through RC’s camps, soccer leagues, and outreach programming. On our fields, diversity is a strength and every player has a place on the team. It is sport as it should be: safe, inclusive, welcoming, and accessible to all.