Antonio Rüdiger: From Berlin’s Refugee Roots to the World Cup

Antonio Rüdiger grew up in Neukölln, Berlin, a neighbourhood of refugees who fled Sierra Leone’s 1991-2002 civil war, which displaced about 2.5 million people. The youngest of six siblings, only he and a sister were German-born. A six-a-side pitch by his window served as his first training ground. At 33, the Real Madrid defender will represent Germany at the 2026 World Cup and leads the Antonio Rüdiger Foundation, which funds schools in Sierra Leone.

The Guardian

Rüdiger says refugees have no choice but to flee and deserve respect. He argues football transcends language, uniting diverse people. He notes both positive contributions and occasional negative experiences among host communities, calling for honest dialogue. He frames Germany’s World Cup participation as a competitive aim, not a symbolic act, and observes that children now use digital devices rather than looking out windows to join games.

The Guardian

Rüdiger acknowledges that some host communities report ‘terrible experiences’ with refugees, fueling skepticism, and frames this as part of a broader dialogue that balances concerns with recognition of refugees’ contributions. He also notes that informal football fields can build social cohesion in refugee neighborhoods, providing a shared language beyond linguistic barriers.

The Guardian

• “We didn’t have phones to call each other: ‘Hey, let’s link up.’ No. We just looked out of the window, we saw there are guys playing football, so let’s go. That was the call. This is the nice thing about Germany; you have everywhere those types of fields. Just these days they’re not much used any more because we’re human beings and we changed to a digital life.” — Antonio Rüdiger, Real Madrid defender

The Guardian

• “It goes hand in hand, unfortunately. But this is life. Some people had terrible experiences with refugees. We have to be honest as well, there are good ones coming here who really want to turn over their lives.” — Antonio Rüdiger

The Guardian

• “You try to do the best you can. Of course, there are teams these days who are ahead of us. But it’s not bad sometimes maybe to be in the underdog position.” — Antonio Rüdiger

The Guardian

• “If I came from this situation and I came out of it,” — Antonio Rüdiger

The Guardian

Rüdiger will compete in the 2026 World Cup while expanding his foundation’s school projects in Sierra Leone and promoting the UNHCR Gamechanging Team as a platform for refugee advocacy.

The Guardian