On this episode of The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered, Chris Horwedel sits down with Warshan Hussin of Soccer Without Borders for a powerful conversation about soccer, refugee identity, community, trauma, belonging, and the life-changing impact of the beautiful game.

Warshan shares his journey from Iraq to the United States after his family was forced to flee when his father was kidnapped and tortured by Al-Qaeda. After spending several years in Syria, Warshan arrived in Baltimore as a young refugee trying to learn a new language, adapt to a new school system, and understand where he fit in. He explains how Soccer Without Borders became much more than a soccer program — it became a family, a safe place, and the first space where he felt like he could breathe, connect, and simply be a kid again.

The conversation explores how Soccer Without Borders uses soccer as a tool for mentorship, education, emotional support, and community-building for immigrant and refugee youth. Warshan talks about the challenges newcomer families face, from navigating school and bills to building a life in a country where parents and children are often learning the system at the same time. He also explains how SWB coaches provided the kind of support, guidance, and cultural understanding that helped keep him and many others on the right path.

Warshan reflects on becoming a team captain, high school standout, Maryland Player of the Week, college player at Stevenson, coach, staff member, and eventually a member of the Soccer Without Borders Board of Directors. He opens up about the injury that ended his playing path, the difficult period that followed, and how returning to Soccer Without Borders as a coach helped him rediscover purpose by mentoring kids who reminded him of himself.

Chris and Warshan also discuss racism, discrimination, the immigrant experience in America, the power of representation in coaching, and what it means for former participants to return and lead the next generation. Warshan explains why alumni coaches can read the room differently, build trust quickly, and help newcomer youth believe that they can dream beyond survival.

The episode also touches on the World Cup, Iraq’s emotional return to the tournament, the meaning of national anthems, Kylian Mbappé’s historic scoring pace, and why soccer carries such deep cultural importance for nations and communities around the world. Warshan closes by sharing what Soccer Without Borders needs most: support, awareness, volunteers, donations, and people willing to recognize the humanity and potential of every young person who walks through the door.

For more information, check out the Soccer Without Borders website at: https://www.soccerwithoutborders.org/

And if you're interested, consider making a donation: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/soccerwithoutborders

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