Migrant amateur teams in Greece get into World Cup spirit before new EU border measures take effect

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Before North America, World Cup magic made a stopover in Greece.

Players battled and bonded not at the mega-stadiums of Mexico, Canada and the United States, but on practice fields squeezed into urban neighborhoods of Athens.

There were no luxury suites or grand arenas — just a local soccer competition where migrants and Greek players kicked the ball on city fields before crowds pressed to chain‑link fences, as music spilled into the streets.

And while Albania, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria and Sudan didn't qualify for the World Cup, amateur players with ties to those countries brought their best game in Athens.

Many migrant players have been bracing for the implementation of Europe’s stricter migration and asylum rules in June. But the tournament for migrant and refugee communities was a joyful distraction, a celebration of football and identity.

At one venue near Plato’s Academy, where ancient Athenians once debated the meaning of citizenship, the Acropolis rose in the distance beyond the field. In the densely populated district of Kypseli, supporters waved Congolese and Ivory Coast flags while volunteers led outdoor drumming lessons nearby.

Teams competed to the soundtrack of African pop music as coaches shouted instructions and supporters cheered from the sidelines.

Amelie Nguedia of Cameroon danced onto the field before kickoff as others joined in, laughing around her.

“Coming to play here is a real pleasure,” she said. “We aren’t professionals, but we love participating.”

Nguedia said that she would be supporting Ivory Coast at the World Cup, after Cameroon failed to qualify.

The Kypseli Mundial tournament was founded three years ago by Ivorian Moussa Sangare, who says he wanted to use football to combat fear and mistrust toward migrants in Greece.

The Mediterranean nation is at the forefront of migrants illegally entering the European Union and was the stage of the 2015 refugee crisis. While the number of irregular border crossings to Greece fell in the last decade, anti-migration sentiment has grown, while the government enforces stricter border controls and vows to increase deportations.

“People are often afraid of migrants, but we wanted to change this narrative,” he said. “Interacting with migrants and second-generation migrants and doing things together: People change their minds through experience.”

Sangare rarely stopped moving throughout the competition — setting schedules, welcoming teams, filming social videos and cleaning up after matches.

“For us, this tournament is like a mini–World Cup in Greece,” he said.

The timing of the Athens competition carried its own symbolism.

The five-week World Cup starts June 11. A day later, new EU migration and asylum rules take effect, with tougher border controls and faster deportations. Greece also wants to move migrant detention facilities offshore to countries in Africa.

Despite that backdrop, there was a festive atmosphere in Athens.

Matches were competitive, but rarely hostile. Hard tackles drew shouts from the sidelines. Coaches barked instructions from cramped dugouts. Fans joked with rival supporters from opposite sides of the fencing.

Moments later, they shared a laugh.

For most players, the tournament stood apart from the routines of daily life. Many work long hours away from public view in restaurant kitchens, hotels, construction sites and food delivery jobs across Athens.

“I am very proud to be playing in this tournament for the first time,” said Amissi, a midfielder from Mali, shortly after finishing a game. He works in a factory assembling water heaters.

After 21 teams participated, Nigeria's team won the men’s competition, while Greek neighborhood club Fostiras claimed the women’s title.

Head referee Chara Vogiatzidaki said that the tournament’s significance extended beyond results on the field.

“There are so many countries and different cultures, and I think the main goal is to show respect for all communities,” she said.

“There are some teams that are technically very advanced, and others that are less so. But the important thing is that all the teams have the mindset of enjoying themselves," Vogiatzidaki said. "That’s really beautiful.”

Amelie Nguedia from Cameroon, left, gives the captain's armband after being substituted to Maria Chaffi during a semifinal soccer match against Fostiras Kaisarianis for the Kypseli Mundial in Athens, Greece, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Migrants from Congo dance during a semifinal soccer match against Mali for the Kypseli Mundial in Athens,Greece, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Migrants from Congo gather before a semifinal soccer match against Mali during the Kypseli Mundial in Athens, Greece, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

A migrant from Mali celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during a semifinal soccer match against Congo for the Kypseli Mundial in Athens, Greece, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Migrants from Congo prepare before a semifinal soccer match against Mali during the Kypseli Mundial in Athens, Greece, on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

SEATTLE (AP) — Randy Arozarena hit a walk-off double, J.P. Crawford homered twice — the first multi-home run game of his career —and the Seattle Mariners beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 in 10 innings on Friday night for their fourth straight win.

After Seattle reliever Cooper Criswell (2-1) threw a scoreless 10th inning, Arozarena went to the opposite field on a slider by Diamondbacks righty Juan Morillo with two runners aboard.

The Mariners (29-29) are .500 for the first time since April 29, when they were 16-16 after a 5-3 win against the Minnesota Twins.

Crawford hit 74 home runs in 978 major league appearances prior to Friday, but never twice in one game before depositing a pair of offerings from Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen into the seats at T-Mobile Park.

The veteran shortstop led off the first inning with a solo shot off the Arizona right-hander, then added a two-run homer in the fifth inning for his ninth of the season, the latter of which gave Seattle a 5-1 lead.

The Diamondbacks responded with four runs in the top of the sixth, three of them charged to Mariners starter George Kirby (6-4), to tie the game. Arizona evened the score on an RBI single by Jose Fernandez.

Seattle responded in the bottom of the sixth, as Luke Raley hit his team-leading 12th home run of the season, but Arizona forced extra innings with an RBI fielder’s choice by Ildemaro Vargas in the ninth inning. That set the stage for Arozarena’s heroics.

Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo (4-3, 3.82 starts Saturday night opposite Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (2-3, 4.65)

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Caean Couto)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Caean Couto)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez hits a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, May 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Caean Couto)

Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford hits a one-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Caean Couto)

Seattle Mariners' J.P. Crawford gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a one-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 29, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Caean Couto)