What is it?
There are one billion homeless people living in our world today (That's roughly the same number of football fans who watched the 2006 World Cup).
The Homeless World Cup exists to end this, so we all have a home, a basic human need.
The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever. It has triggered and supports grass roots football projects in over 60 nations working with over 25,000 homeless and excluded people throughout the year.
The first tournament took place in Graz 2003 uniting 17 national teams. At the 5th Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen this summer, 48 nations, 500 players were united for a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country. Melbourne is the host city for the next tournament from 1-7 December 2008.
The impact is consistently significant year on year with 73% of players changing their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.
The Homeless World Cup also supports and inspires grass roots football projects around the world working with homeless and excluded people throughout the year.
Homeless World Cup supporters include UEFA, Nike, UN, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Ambassador Eric Cantona and international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand.
Who Can Play?
* male or female and at least 16 years old
* Are or have been homeless in accordance with the national definition of homelessness or
* Make your main living income as street paper vendor or
* Are an asylum seeker currently without positive asylum status or
* Are currently in drug or alcohol rehabilitation and have been homeless at some point in the past two years
* Have not taken part in previous Homeless World Cup tournaments.
How is it Played?
The Homeless World Cup is a street soccer event, which is fast and entertaining. Each match, officiated by a referee, lasts for 14 minutes, that’s 7 minutes each way with a one minute break for half –time.
The standard of the players and the teams vary greatly. The policy of the Homeless World Cup is to be as inclusive as possible whilst keeping the true magic of competitive sport alive.
Different qualifying or elimination stages are played throughout the week so that everyone ends up playing for a cup no matter what the ability of the team is. The better teams play for the top trophy, next best for the second trophy and so on. All players receive a medal.
What it Does
In 2006, 48 countries competed in the 4th annual Homeless World Cup. One year later...
92% players have a new motivation for life
73% have changed their lives for the better
93 players successfully addressed a drug or alcohol dependency
35% have secured regular employment
44% have improved their housing situation
39% chose to pursue education
72% continue to play football
Links
* Kicking It (2008) - A Movie about the Homeless World Cup
