Fearful opponents are not Spain or Brazil, but South Tyrol or Carinthian Slovenes. It is now clear which teams will have to fear them in the group stage of next summer's EUROPEADA – as the draw for the groups for the 5th edition of the European Minority Football Championships took place today at the Sydbank Park stadium in Haderslev/Hadersleben, Denmark. Around 130 guests attended the event, including 20 delegations of teams from all over Europe as well as numerous personalities from politics, sport and the media.

The tournament features 36 teams from national and ethnic minorities from 15 European countries, including 27 men's and 9 women's teams. The men will play against each other in seven groups in the group phase from 30 June to 2 July 2024, while the women will play in three groups. The knockout round and the placement matches will take place from 4 to 6 July 2024.

Overview of the groups (also available in the teams&groups area on this website):

The final match schedule and kick-off times will be published shortly on the official tournament website www.europeada.eu

On behalf of FUEN (Federal Union of European Nationalities), the umbrella organisation of Europe's autochthonous minorities and founder of the tournament, Vice-President Gösta Toft promised: "As in 2008 in Graubünden, 2012 in Lusatia, 2016 in South Tyrol and 2022 in Carinthia, there will be more than just exciting matches and plenty of emotion. It will be a celebration of diversity!" He drew parallels between values in football and the commitment to minority rights that FUEN has dedicated itself to. "Here in the stadium, the following values apply, which are equally important for football and for minorities: Show humility, take responsibility, maintain cohesion and work hard," says Toft.  Above all, let's use the cohesion on and off the pitch at EUROPEADA 2024 to achieve our common goals!"

The lottery balls were drawn by prominent guests: Mads Skau, Mayor of Haderslev/Hadersleben, and Stefan Seidler, SSW Member of Parliament (photo), were at the draw for the women's tournament. Povl Davidsen, co-owner of Sønderjyske Fodbold football club, and Mads Buttgereit, assistant coach of the German national football team and newly appointed ambassador for EUROPEADA, were responsible for the men's groups.

EUROPEADA 2024 will be hosted by the Sinti and Roma and the Frisian minority in Schleswig-Holstein, the German minority in Denmark and the Danish minority in Germany. The motto "Between the Seas" is quite literal: the games will be played at 14 locations in Germany and Denmark, between the North and Baltic Seas.

In addition to the festive opening ceremony and the finals, another highlight will be the traditional cultural day in the middle of the tournament, where the participating minorities will present their culture, language and traditions to each other. There will also be a supporting programme with concerts, panel discussions and much more.

Background

FUEN is the founder and coordinator of the tournament and organises EUROPEADA together with the local organisers. Previously, the European Minority Football Championship was held in Graubünden/Switzerland (2008), Lausitz/Germany (2012), South Tyrol/Italy (2016) and Carinthia/Koroška, Austria (2022). The tournament is a major sporting event that combines fair competition and the excitement of a sports festival with the matters of the autochthonous, national minorities.

Photocredit: FUEN/Martin Ziemer