Children Displaced by War Led the National Teams of Ukraine and France Onto the Pitch at the 2026 World Cup Qualifier in Wrocław

Students of the First Ukrainian School led the players of the Ukraine and France national teams onto the pitch ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifying match in Wrocław.

Thanks to the Ukrainian Association of Football, the children fulfilled a long-cherished dream — to see their football idols up close and lead them onto the pitch of the 40,000-seat Tarczyński Arena Wrocław.

After the opening ceremony, they joined their parents in the stands and passionately cheered for the Ukraine national team, unable to hold back their emotions.

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The First Ukrainian School in Poland is attended by children who were forced to leave their homes due to the full-scale invasion by Russia.

The educational institution in Wrocław brings together 426 children from across Ukraine — including Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia region, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Lutsk, as well as territories currently under occupation, such as Kherson region, Donetsk, and Luhansk.

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“My name is Artem, I’m eight years old. I came from Kyiv with my family. What I miss the most are my toys that stayed at home. We are doing well in Wrocław, the food is good here, but I really want to go back home.”

“My name is Laysan, I’m seven years old. I’m from Kherson. What I miss the most is my home in Ukraine. I’m very nervous before walking onto the pitch because I know so many people will see me in the stadium.”

Artem led Mike Maignan, the goalkeeper of the France national team, onto the pitch, while Laysan led Lucas Digne, a defender of Les Bleus.

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“The social mission of the Ukrainian Association of Football is to use football as a tool to support Ukrainians, both within the country and abroad. According to UNICEF, as of January 2025, more than 200,000 children and young people from Ukraine were studying in Polish schools. I am very happy that the students of the First Ukrainian School were able to fulfill their dream and gain another powerful memory connected to Ukraine,” said Olena Balbek, CEO of the UAF Foundation.

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The First Ukrainian School was founded in March 2022, when the first refugee children from Ukraine began arriving in Poland.

The school follows the Ukrainian Ministry of Education system, as well as the Polish educational curriculum. Today, it operates in three cities — Warsaw, Krakow, and Wrocław.

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