Building Social Integration through ‘Play’ and Football in Azerbaijan

This chapter explores a grassroots initiative in Mingachevir, Azerbaijan, where a playpark and youth football programme were created to support social integration between internally displaced persons from Nagorno–Karabakh and local residents. Set against the backdrop of Azerbaijan&s;s Soviet legacy and its ongoing conflict with Armenia, the project aimed to foster cross-community interaction through shared recreational spaces. Managed by NGOs, the playpark encouraged developmental play amongst young children, whilst football activities for older youth aimed to promote discipline, teamwork, and mutual respect. Semi-structured interviews with stakeholders highlighted both the programme&s;s potential and the challenges faced, such as linguistic barriers and limited resources. The playpark emerged as a rare space of unity and resilience in a community impacted by trauma and displacement. The chapter reflects on how small-scale, locally driven interventions can contribute to post-conflict social healing. It also situates the initiative within broader contemporary trends, including the modernisation of certain regions in Azerbaijan and the country&s;s positioning as a host of global sporting events, revealing tensions between local needs and national ambitions.