Homeless World Cup
The Homeless World Cup is an annual international association football tournament contested by national teams of homeless or formerly homeless players, founded in 2001 by Mel Young and Harald Schmied to promote football as a tool for inspiring life changes and raising awareness of homelessness.[1][2] The inaugural event occurred in 2003 in Graz, Austria, featuring small-sided matches (typically 4-a-side or 5-a-side) with no age restrictions, emphasizing participation, skill-building, and community over elite competition.[1][3] Since then, the tournament has expanded to include up to 500 players from over 40 countries, hosted in cities worldwide, with partnerships from organizations like FIFA providing logistical support and visibility.[4][5] Participants often report short-term boosts in confidence, social connections, and motivation—such as 94% noting positive life impacts in self-assessments—but empirical evidence from independent, long-term studies on reducing homelessness rates remains limited, with outcomes largely anecdotal or reliant on organizational surveys.[6][7][8] The event has garnered media attention, including a Netflix film adaptation, yet faces scrutiny in academic evaluations for potentially overemphasizing symbolic inclusion without addressing root causes like economic policy failures or addiction treatment gaps.[9][10]History
Founding and Origins
The Homeless World Cup was co-founded in 2001 by Mel Young, a Scottish social entrepreneur who established The Big Issue in Scotland in 1993, and Harald Schmied, an Austrian journalist and head of communication for Caritas Steiermark.[1][11] The initiative originated from discussions between the two, who were involved in street paper networks, during an impassioned conversation aimed at devising a global approach to combat homelessness through football.[5][12] This concept built on existing local street soccer programs, seeking to unite participants internationally to foster empowerment and awareness.[1] The inaugural tournament occurred in July 2003 in Graz, Austria, 18 months after the organization's formal establishment, featuring teams from 17 nations.[1][3] Schmied's local connections in Austria facilitated the hosting, marking the event's debut with a focus on small-sided football matches to emphasize skill and participation over professional athleticism.[13] The event's structure was designed to highlight personal stories of recovery and reintegration, aligning with the founders' vision of sport as a catalyst for social change rather than mere competition.[14] Young continued as the primary leader after Schmied's health-related withdrawal, expanding the tournament's scope while maintaining its core emphasis on verifiable participant eligibility tied to experiences of homelessness or extreme social exclusion.[15][16]Early Tournaments and Growth (2003–2010)
The first Homeless World Cup took place from July 6 to 12, 2003, in Graz, Austria, organized following a concept developed at a 2001 International Network of Street Papers conference. It featured 18 men's or mixed teams representing 17 nations, with 144 players participating in a tiered format. Austria, the host nation, won the Tier 1 INSP Homeless World Cup Trophy by defeating England 2–1 in the final, while Scotland claimed the Tier 2 INSP Networking Trophy with a 2–1 victory over Poland.[17][18] Subsequent editions demonstrated rapid expansion. The 2004 tournament in Gothenburg, Sweden, involved 26 teams, with Italy securing the men's title by beating Poland 4–0. Italy repeated as champions in 2005 in Edinburgh, Scotland, among 27 participating teams. By 2006, hosted in Cape Town, South Africa, the event grew to 48 teams, and Russia won the men's division.[18] The 2007 competition in Copenhagen, Denmark, maintained 48 teams, with Scotland defeating Kenya in the men's final. In 2008, Melbourne, Australia, hosted the first women's division alongside the men's event (won by Afghanistan), still with 48 teams. Ukraine triumphed in the men's category in 2009 in Milan, Italy, and Brazil claimed the 2010 men's title on home soil in Rio de Janeiro, where the women's final saw Brazil prevail 7–3 over Mexico.[18][19][2] Participation surged from 18 teams in 2003 to a stabilized field of 48 by 2006, reflecting growing international engagement through national street soccer programs and the tournament's unique 7-minute-per-half format emphasizing continuous play. This period established the event as an annual global fixture, rotating hosts across continents to foster broader involvement among homeless individuals.[18][20]Recent Developments and Global Expansion (2011–2025)
The Homeless World Cup sustained its momentum after introducing women's divisions in 2010, with tournaments hosted in diverse international locations and growing participation from additional nations. The 2011 event in Paris, France, continued the pattern of rotating host cities to amplify global awareness of homelessness. Subsequent editions expanded reach: Mexico City, Mexico (2012), where a record 72 teams competed across men's and women's categories; Poznań, Poland (2013); Santiago, Chile (2014); Amsterdam, Netherlands (2015); Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (2016); Oslo, Norway (2017); Mexico City again (2018); and Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom (2019).[3][21] The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted operations, leading to cancellations in 2020 and 2021, though the foundation maintained year-round programs through national partners. The tournament resumed in 2022 in Dortmund, Germany, followed by Sacramento, United States (2023), and Seoul, South Korea (2024), with 56 teams from 42 nations in the latter, underscoring recovery and sustained interest.[3][22] The 2025 edition in Oslo, Norway—marking the 20th tournament—featured 63 teams from 48 countries and approximately 500 players, including six debutant nations such as Burkina Faso, Canada, and Spain. This reflected broader expansion, with the foundation's network growing to 68 member countries across all continents by mid-decade, enabling localized football-based interventions for over 1 million individuals experiencing homelessness worldwide. On the eve of the 2025 finals, organizers announced Mexico City as host for 2026, signaling continued rotation to emerging regions.[4][23][24][25]Organizational Framework
Founding Entities and Governance
The Homeless World Cup was co-founded in 2001 by Mel Young, a Scottish social entrepreneur who established The Big Issue newspaper in Scotland in 1993 and later co-founded the International Network of Street Papers, and Harald Schmied, head of communication and fundraising for Caritas Steiermark in Austria.[1][5] The initiative originated from discussions between Young and Schmied at the International Street Paper Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, where they conceived using football as a tool to raise global awareness of homelessness and empower affected individuals.[12] Schmied, who passed away in 2018 at age 50, contributed significantly to the early organizational efforts until health issues limited his involvement.[16] The Homeless World Cup Foundation, a Scotland-based nonprofit charity, serves as the central organizing entity, functioning as an umbrella body that coordinates the annual tournament and supports a global network of over 70 grassroots organizations focused on using football to address homelessness and social isolation.[26][27] Mel Young has led the foundation as president and CEO since its inception, overseeing strategic direction and international partnerships.[15] Governance involves collaboration with national street soccer affiliates that select and prepare teams, while the foundation enforces eligibility criteria centered on recent experiences of homelessness or social exclusion. UEFA has partnered with the foundation since 2003 as one of its primary financial contributors, providing logistical and promotional support without direct control over operations.[28] The structure emphasizes decentralized implementation through local partners, with the foundation maintaining oversight of tournament rules, event hosting, and impact measurement initiatives.[26]National Partners and Affiliates
The Homeless World Cup operates through a network of national partner organizations, referred to as member countries, consisting of 68 grassroots entities spanning every continent. These affiliates deliver localized street football initiatives that directly engage homeless and marginalized individuals, utilizing the sport as a mechanism for social integration, skill-building, and empowerment.[29] Each national partner manages year-round programs, including referee training for potential income generation and linkages to broader support services such as housing assistance, documentation aid, mental health counseling, and vocational opportunities. They identify and select players for the annual tournament based on active participation and demonstrated commitment within these programs, adhering to eligibility standards that prioritize individuals currently or recently experiencing homelessness.[29][26] The foundation supports these affiliates via a global framework that promotes best-practice exchange, resource provision, and collaborative training, enabling affiliates to refine their approaches and expand outreach. This decentralized model has facilitated annual engagement with over 100,000 homeless participants across more than 450 program sites worldwide, while national teams represent their countries in the Homeless World Cup, amplifying local efforts on an international stage.[26][30]Tournament Mechanics
Competition Format and Rules
The Homeless World Cup utilizes a four-a-side street soccer format on pitches measuring 22 meters long by 16 meters wide, enclosed by 1.10-meter-high perimeter boards, with goals 4 meters wide by 1.30 meters high and a penalty area of 4-meter radius around each goal.[31] Matches last two seven-minute halves with a one-minute halftime interval, employing a size 5 ball and three referees per game—two positioned at the ends and one mobile.[31] Each team fields three outfield players and one goalkeeper, supported by up to four substitutes who may enter via unlimited rolling or "flying" substitutions without stopping play.[31] Gameplay rules prioritize continuous, attacking football and fair play, prohibiting gamesmanship to maintain the event's integrity.[31] Kickoffs begin with a referee throw-in from the center; after goals, the conceding team's goalkeeper restarts play from within the penalty area.[31] Goalkeepers cannot score directly, exit their penalty area, retain possession beyond four seconds, throw overarm, or receive intentional pass-backs from teammates, with violations awarding a penalty kick to the opposition.[31] Outfield players are barred from entering the penalty area, and at least one outfield player must remain in the opponent's half at all times (except during certain card sanctions), with persistent time-wasting or defensive delays incurring penalties.[31] Fouls and misconducts trigger indirect free kicks (opponents retreating 2 meters) or penalty kicks, taken from the penalty spot with the ball moving forward initially.[31] Balls going out of play are restarted by hand rolls along the ground from the point of exit, except on goal lines where the goalkeeper or opponent handles it.[31] Minor fouls earn a blue card (two-minute exclusion, no immediate substitute), while serious offenses result in a red card (permanent ejection without replacement).[31] Tournament progression features group stages with round-robin matches, advancing top teams to knockout playoffs for multiple trophies, including the championship and lower classifications, ensuring extensive participation where "every match counts." Formats adapt to participant numbers; the 2025 Oslo men's division divided 40 teams into eight groups of five, with the top three from each group typically progressing to subsequent rounds.[32] Smaller events, such as Fuenlabrada's, use two groups of four teams playing three round-robin games each, followed by quarter-finals seeded by group winners and runners-up.[33] Points allocation includes three for a win, zero for a loss, and— for draws resolved by sudden-death penalties—two for the shoot-out winner and one for the loser, with tiebreakers prioritizing disciplinary records over goal difference to discourage risk-averse play.[33]Player Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for participation in the Homeless World Cup centers on individuals who have experienced homelessness or related social and economic marginalization, with criteria adapted to national contexts. Players must be at least 16 years old at the time of the tournament.[34][35] Homelessness itself is defined according to each country's legal or operational standards; where no formal legal definition exists, equivalents from local housing non-governmental organizations or academic sources are used.[36] Qualifying experiences typically include having been without stable housing within the past year, though broader vulnerabilities such as backgrounds in drug or alcohol addiction or mental health challenges may also satisfy requirements in some national programs.[34][37] A key restriction limits players to a single lifetime participation in the tournament, ensuring opportunities rotate to new individuals facing similar circumstances.[38] National street soccer affiliates, which select and prepare teams, verify eligibility through documentation of recent homelessness or equivalent status, such as reliance on street paper vending for primary income or recent asylum-seeking without resolved status.[39][35] There are no mandates for prior athletic experience or physical fitness levels, allowing participants of varying abilities to compete in the 4-a-side street soccer format.[37] This inclusive approach prioritizes lived hardship over competitive pedigree, though verification processes aim to prevent repeat entries or ineligible athletes.[35]Selection Process and Participant Preparation
The selection of players for the Homeless World Cup is managed by national street football partners affiliated with the Homeless World Cup Foundation, which operate year-round programs targeting individuals experiencing homelessness or economic and social marginalization. These partners, numbering around 70 globally, identify and engage eligible participants through local initiatives that emphasize football as a tool for personal development and community building. Eligibility criteria generally require participants to be at least 16 years old and to have recently experienced homelessness according to national definitions, or to be otherwise marginalized, though specifics can vary by country; for instance, prior participation in the tournament is typically barred to ensure opportunities for new players.[39][35][4] Player selection is not solely based on athletic prowess but incorporates a broader assessment of factors such as personal circumstances, commitment to local programs, and potential for life change, often culminating in national qualifiers or trials. In Mexico, for example, prospective players first represent their home states in a nationwide tournament involving 32 teams, after which a final squad is chosen holistically from standout performers. Similar processes occur elsewhere, with partners required to deliver inclusive, non-discriminatory programs that actively involve over-16s in weekly sessions, fostering skills like teamwork and responsibility before advancing select individuals to represent their nation.[40][26][22] Preparation for the tournament involves progressive training phases coordinated by national partners, beginning with grassroots development programs that link football participation to complementary services such as health support, education, and vocational training. Selected players often undergo intensified pre-tournament regimens, including physical conditioning, mindset workshops, group therapy, and goal-setting sessions, as seen in Mexico's high-performance camps convened weeks before departure. National affiliates bear responsibility for funding travel and kits, while the foundation provides on-site accommodation and meals; this structure aims to build not just competitive readiness but also practical life skills, such as obtaining passports and adhering to team discipline, though outcomes depend on the varying capacities of local organizations.[26][40][39]Event Outcomes
Men's Division Results
The Men's Division has crowned a champion annually since the inaugural tournament in 2003, except for 2020–2022 when events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] Matches follow a fast-paced format of two 7-minute halves with teams limited to four players on the field (three outfield plus one goalkeeper) and four substitutes.[18] Mexico holds the record for most titles with six wins, followed by Chile, Brazil, Italy, and Scotland with three each.[18]| Year | Champion | Score | Runner-up | Host City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Austria | 2–1 | England | Graz, Austria[18] |
| 2004 | Italy | 4–0 | Austria | Gothenburg, Sweden[18] |
| 2005 | Italy | 3–2 | Poland | Edinburgh, United Kingdom[18] |
| 2006 | Russia | 1–0 | Kazakhstan | Cape Town, South Africa[18] |
| 2007 | Scotland | 9–3 | Poland | Copenhagen, Denmark[18] |
| 2008 | Afghanistan | 5–4 | Russia | Melbourne, Australia[18] |
| 2009 | Ukraine | 5–4 | Portugal | Milan, Italy[18] |
| 2010 | Brazil | 6–0 | Chile | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil[18] |
| 2011 | Scotland | 4–3 | Mexico | Paris, France[18] |
| 2012 | Chile | 8–5 | Mexico | Mexico City, Mexico[18] |
| 2013 | Brazil | 3–3 (1–0 pen) | Mexico | Poznań, Poland[18] |
| 2014 | Chile | 5–2 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Santiago, Chile[18] |
| 2015 | Mexico | 5–2 | Ukraine | Amsterdam, Netherlands[18] |
| 2016 | Mexico | 6–1 | Brazil | Glasgow, United Kingdom[18] |
| 2017 | Brazil | 4–3 | Mexico | Oslo, Norway[18] |
| 2018 | Mexico | 6–3 | Chile | Mexico City, Mexico[18] |
| 2019 | Mexico | 5–1 | Chile | Cardiff, United Kingdom[18] |
| 2023 | Chile | 5–3 | Mexico | Sacramento, United States[18] |
| 2024 | Mexico | 6–5 | England | Seoul, South Korea[41][18] |
| 2025 | Egypt | 4–3 | Portugal | Oslo, Norway[24][18] |
Women's Division Results
The women's division was introduced at the 2008 Homeless World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, where Zambia defeated Liberia 7–1 in the final.[18] No women's competition occurred in 2009, and the division has been held annually thereafter except for cancellations in 2020–2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] Mexico emerged as the dominant force, securing nine titles between 2012 and 2024, including seven consecutive wins from 2018 to 2024, as recognized by Guinness World Records.[42] This streak ended in 2025 when Uganda claimed its first championship with a 6–0 victory over Mexico in the Oslo final.[43] [24] The following table summarizes the women's division finals:| Year | Host City, Country | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Melbourne, Australia | Zambia | 7–1 | Liberia |
| 2010 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Brazil | 7–3 | Mexico |
| 2011 | Paris, France | Kenya | 4–3 | Brazil |
| 2012 | Mexico City, Mexico | Mexico | 6–2 | Brazil |
| 2013 | Poznań, Poland | Mexico | 4–1 | Chile |
| 2014 | Santiago, Chile | Chile | 4–1 | Brazil |
| 2015 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Mexico | 3–1 | Chile |
| 2016 | Glasgow, United Kingdom | Mexico | 3–2 | Kyrgyzstan |
| 2017 | Oslo, Norway | Brazil | 4–3 | Mexico |
| 2018 | Mexico City, Mexico | Mexico | 5–3 | Colombia |
| 2019 | Cardiff, United Kingdom | Mexico | 6–0 | Peru |
| 2023 | Sacramento, United States | Mexico | 2–0 | Chile |
| 2024 | Seoul, South Korea | Mexico | 5–2 | Romania |
| 2025 | Oslo, Norway | Uganda | 6–0 | Mexico |