Migration experiences in European soccer - an away game?

Framework program of the City of Stuttgart for the UEFA European Football Championship

On July 2, 2024, the fan zone on Karlsplatz in Stuttgart will become a stage for footballers from various European countries: As part of the UEFA European Championship 2024, they will give an insight into their personal experiences of migration in a panel discussion. Moderated by Béla Réthy.

The EUNIC Cluster Stuttgart invites you to its cooperation event entitled “Migration Experiences in European Football - An Away Game?”:
Date: July 02, 2024
Time: 16:00
Location: Cultural stage of the Host City Stuttgart UEFA Euro 2024, Fanzone Karlsplatz, 70173 Stuttgart

Soccer is not only a sport, but also a reflection of our society. The migration experiences of footballers play a significant role in the European soccer landscape and reflect the diversity and cultural dynamics that characterize the sport. The panel discussion will provide a platform to shed light on different aspects of the migration experience in soccer, such as integration, cultural diversity, identity and the challenges faced by players.

The guests will be Maurizio Gaudino, Matthieu Delpierre.and Krisztián Lisztes
Maurizio Gaudino is a former German soccer player and coach of Italian origin. In his career as a midfielder, he played 294 Bundesliga games for SV Waldhof Mannheim, Eintracht Frankfurt, VfL Bochum and VfB Stuttgart, with whom he became German champion in 1992. He played abroad for clubs in London, Mexico City, Basel and Antalya. He was a member of the German national team at the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
Matthieu Delpierre is a former French defender and has been the athletics coach for VfB Stuttgart's youth team since 2020. As a player, he played in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia. One of the highlights of his career was his time at VfB Stuttgart from 2004 to 2012, with whom he became German champion in 2007 and reached the final of the DFB Cup.
Krisztián Lisztes is a former footballer of the Hungarian national team. In Germany, he played for VfB Stuttgart, Werder Bremen, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hansa Rostock and made over 200 Bundesliga appearances.

The event will be hosted by Béla Réthy. He is a renowned former German sports journalist and commentator of Hungarian origin. He is best known for his passion for soccer commentary, which he presented with his unmistakable style. In the past, he has commentated on numerous major matches, including World Cups, European Championships and Champions League matches, becoming a familiar voice for millions of soccer fans.

The EUNIC Cluster Stuttgart is looking forward to bringing together soccer fans, experts and interested parties and providing an insight into the diverse perspectives and experiences in European soccer.

The event is open to the public. Registration is not required.

About EUNIC - EU National Institutes for Culture

EUNIC is the European network of organizations promoting cultural relations worldwide. The network is active in more than 100 countries and, with its 139 clusters, has extensive experience in cultural cooperation. As a strategic partner of the EU, it is actively involved in shaping European cultural policy.

The EUNIC Cluster Stuttgart consists of four cultural institutes that maintain cultural relations as branches of the network and develop activities together with partner organizations:

The Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Stoccarda (Italian Cultural Institute Stuttgart) has been spreading the Italian language and culture in its area of responsibility in southwest Germany since it was founded in 1962. This is done by means of language courses and examinations, its own library, as well as art exhibitions, concerts and events in cooperation with Stuttgart institutions. 

As one of 27 Hungarian cultural centers worldwide, the Liszt Institute Stuttgart has been promoting cultural dialogue between southern Germany and Hungary since 1990. Its programs and projects consist of a mixture of tradition and innovation, representing Hungary in its Central and Eastern European context.  They were developed to appeal to different target groups and generations. 

The Institut français Stuttgart is part of a network of 11 Institut français at 14 locations throughout Germany and cooperates closely with 13 other Franco-German cultural centers. The Institut français Germany is committed to promoting the French language and culture on an international level and to the further development of intercultural exchange.

The ifa - Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen works with partners worldwide to promote freedom in the arts, research and civil society. It gives activists, artists and scientists a voice, promotes cooperation and increasingly pursues its goals with European partners. Based on its core competencies of art, research and civil society, ifa builds networks to achieve sustainable impact.