Ukrainian girls escape war for a week at Dallas Cup, finding joy, safety and hope through soccer on an international stage in North Texas.
DALLAS — At the Dallas Cup, the focus is usually on the future of the sport — young athletes competing on a global stage, many destined for professional careers.
But for one group of 11-year-old girls from Ukraine, the tournament represents something far more personal.
More than 30 countries are represented at this year’s competition, often described by organizers as a “mini World Cup.” Among them is a team of 14 girls dressed in blue — traveling thousands of miles from a country still shaped by war.
For players like 11-year-old Arina, the experience is a stark contrast to daily life back home. Originally from Kherson, she and her family fled after the city was occupied by Russian forces, relocating to Odesa without her father.
“My mom woke me up, and we just started driving to another city,” she said.
Even now, war is never far away.
“When I play football, the sirens go off, and we have to leave the pitch or the school and go to the bomb shelter,” Arina said. “So it’s not really good.”
This week in North Texas, that reality is temporarily on pause.
“I can just forget them for now and just be here,” she said.
It’s the team’s first trip to the United States — made possible by local support. Organizer Dmitriy Jidkov helped secure more than $20,000 in sponsorships to bring the girls to the tournament, with hopes of expanding the opportunity next year. He also found host families that have children the same age who play soccer.
“My main reason is to get the girls out of the war,” he said.
The players say they know they couldn’t have made the journey alone.
“They helped us a lot,” Arina said.
Tournament Executive Director Frank Filo says moments like these reflect the broader impact of the Dallas Cup, which has long been a pipeline for elite talent. Alumni have gone on to play in more than 550 World Cup matches, with dozens of former players expected to represent their countries again this year.
Still, for this Ukrainian team, the wins go beyond the scoreboard.
For a few days, they get to trade air raid sirens for soccer — and simply be kids again. This trip is beyond the game of soccer. “But soccer makes it possible, Jidkov said.
Support came from Dallas residents Chris Blackburn, Mark Dunbar, Matt McGraw, Nataliya Plambeck and Lance Vincent, along with companies including Aer Sales, Aeroasset, Global Medical Response and Texas Counter Fitters.