Erasmus+ – One Game, Two Cultures, Endless Connections – the Universal Language of Football

After the Swedish football group had been our guests for a week in October 2025, during which we organized workshops, friendly matches, and intensive training sessions both at school and on the pitch, we eagerly looked forward to our return visit to Sweden six months later. Based on our experience in October, we already knew what to pack: football boots, warm clothes, an open mind for Scandinavian weather and a touch of Swedish academic discipline. What we found there was exactly what we had hoped for: the same team spirit, the same enthusiasm, and the same passion for sport.
Through the Erasmus+ exchange between Sportgymnasium Sterzing and Idrottsgymnasiet Nacka in Stockholm, we trained, competed, and learned side by side. On the pitch, we improved our football skills and discovered that teamwork knows no borders. Beyond football, we explored Stockholm, visited fascinating museums such as the Vasa Museum and the Paradox Museum, and took a boat across the city’s beautiful waterways. We also had the chance to admire the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish Royal Family and one of Stockholm’s most impressive landmarks, while experiencing Swedish culture firsthand.
And football wasn’t the only sport on the agenda. We also tried padel—one of Europe’s fastest-growing sports—and quickly became fans of the game.
Workshops on democracy, human rights, and fair play encouraged us to discuss important global issues while developing our communication, debating, and critical-thinking skills. One of the highlights was a mixed Swedish-Italian football match, which demonstrated how sport can overcome cultural differences and bring people together through a shared passion.
This project showed us that football is much more than a game. It is a universal language that builds bridges, promotes understanding, and creates friendships across borders.
Many thanks to our teachers, Claudia Brüne and Andrea Mayr, as well as our football coach, Christoph Holzer, for making this unforgettable experience possible!