Switzerland Hosts 12th Peace Cup Soccer Games for Children
- khwang562
- May 31
- 2 min read
Novazzano, Switzerland – UPF-Ticino, in partnership with a local soccer club, held its 12th Peace Cup soccer tournament on May 1, 2025 in the town of Novazzano, near the border with Italy. Teams were comprised of children born in 2014 and 2015.
This year’s event was blessed with gorgeous weather, facilitating preparations. Twelve teams of children participated – nine from Switzerland and three from Italy – with about 150 players in total. The staff of UPF-Ticino received strong support from all corners of Switzerland, with UPF members traveling from afar to help out. Friends from the local soccer association provided referees and managed logistics, including kitchen, first aid, parking guidance, and technical support. An impressive crowd of cheering spectators filled the stands.
A Peace Ambassador award was bestowed on the logistics coordinator, Mr. Roberto Meneghetti; who has made a tradition out of managing all the team registrations. Although he is now retired from sports, he said, “For the Peace Cup, I shall do everything I can!” Since its launch in 2011, the UPF-Ticino tournament has built an excellent reputation. As a result, registration has become more a task of selection than of promotion, because far more than 12 teams wanted to participate. Of course, there are always last-minute cancellations requiring quick replacements, but he managed every situation smoothly.
In his opening speech the president of UPF-Ticino, Mr. Giuseppe Termine, said, “Today we are not only celebrating sport, but above all the values that sport teaches us: respect, loyalty, commitment, and team spirit. The Peace Cup was born with this spirit, to remind us that more important than victory is the way we play, behave, and relate to others.
“Fair play is when you lend a hand to your opponent after a fall, when you accept a referee's decision even if it costs you dearly, when you encourage your teammates even in difficult moments. It is in these small gestures that the heart of a champion is measured. To you, young footballers, I want to say: today you have the opportunity not only to play, but to demonstrate that you can be strong without being aggressive, determined without being unfair, competitive without losing your smile.”
The tournament was won by the team Tre Valli, while the Fair Play Trophy went to the group Insema for helping a handicapped child who ran onto the field wanting to take away the soccer ball.
UPF-Ticino extends its appreciation to the organizers, sports clubs, coaches, attending authorities, and all the collaborators behind the scenes.
