HIBAPRESS-RABAT-FIFA
Mexico won the men’s and women’s tournaments at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup
The tournament works towards a world where there are no more homeless people
Lives have already changed just one week after the tournament ended
The 19th edition of the Homeless World Cup has concluded in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and already the positive social impact the tournament is known for is beginning to take shape.
The Homeless World Cup is a tournament that aims to transform the lives of participants and change perceptions and attitudes towards homeless people. The Homeless World Cup Foundation’s (HWCF) vision of a world where there are no more homeless people is more than just virtue signaling: it’s a goal the foundation achieves year after year through universal language of football.
Many tournament participants since 2003 have found housing, permanent addresses and/or jobs in sporting communities, which in turn give back to the countries for which they played. A true life-changing impact.
Organized every year, the tournament is designed down to the smallest detail to allow as many people as possible to benefit from the work of the HWCF.
For example, you can only enter the competition once in your life. This helps ensure as many people as possible get a fresh start, with 1.2 million homeless lives having been helped since the tournament began in 2003.
We can already see that the 2024 edition, the first tournament since the signing of the memorandum of understanding between FIFA and the HWCF, is no exception, with lives already turned upside down.
Felicia Sandberg
Felizia Sandberg represented Sweden at the 2014 Homeless World Cup in Santiago, Chile. Ten years later, she is now helping to pass on the benefits of football to others as coach of the Swedish team.
Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup hailed as celebration of hope
“The Homeless World Cup saved my life. I was struggling with addiction – I was addicted to heroin – but when I played in Chile it changed my life and I’ve been sober ever since,” Sandberg said. “Some of our players didn’t like football before coming to us, but now they love it because it’s more than a game. Football brings hope and cohesion. »
Sandberg’s mother is part of the 2024 Swedish team that was in Seoul. Having seen the impact football had on her daughter, she joined the team 18 months ago and has since been drug free.
Yasmeen Khan
Yasmeen Khan grew up in New Seemapuri, New Delhi’s largest slum, with few prospects other than following the traditional path for young women: getting married and not being able to decide on her own future.
All that changed when the Indian organization Slum Soccer visited their region and brought hope and change through football.
“Football changed my life. In the area I come from, families are disadvantaged and life is not very safe,” Khan said. “You can see little children taking drugs with syringes. Girls can’t wear shorts there, so it’s very difficult for me to come and play soccer, but thanks to Slum Soccer, it’s been a huge change in our community. They educated us through football. At first, girls were not allowed to go out, nor to wear shorts, and could not go out without the veil. Now girls wear shorts and play soccer. This has had a huge impact on our community.
“This Homeless World Cup is going to be a turning point for me and my community because when I come home after defending my country’s colors, other girls are going to give it their all. Parents will send them out to play saying, “If she can, why can’t you?” »
Sandesh Borde, Khan’s coach
“It’s a miracle for these girls who had no hope in life. They had nothing. When they come here, they are full of hope, they all feel like they can do something with their lives,” Borde said. “They become role models for a society where girls are kept away from sport. This is changing and I am sure the players will bring big changes to their communities. »
Reed Fox, coach, Street Soccer USA
Reed Fox is director of the nonprofit Street Soccer USA. The Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup is his fifth at the helm of Team USA. For Fox, the fact that former players keep coming back to help the next generation of participants is a sign that the tournament is having a big impact.
“Homeless people are isolated and heavily stigmatized,” Fox said. “But this tournament shows that it can affect anyone, and anyone can come out of it. Football offers this outlet, positivity, collectiveness and that’s exactly what people need. »
“Three of our coaches this year are former tournament participants, so it’s a great learning experience. »
The fact that FIFA is playing a role in the tournament for the first time, according to Fox, brings even more excitement to all participants.
“The players are super happy: they grew up watching the World Cup and everyone knows FIFA, so the fact that they are participating in the tournament really shows how important and special it is. »
Natalie Handley, referee
Returning players in a new role is about more than just coaching. Natalie Handley returned to break down barriers as a referee.
Natalie originally represented Wales as a player at the Santiago 2014 Homeless World Cup. Her life changed so much with the tournament that she had to return, becoming the tournament’s first female referee ( Mexico City 2018) and the first woman to referee a final (Sacramento 2023).
“The Homeless World Cup is special to me, it saved my life by helping me get it back on track,” Handley said. “She gave me the confidence to be myself. I love football and I love seeing people who manage to change their lives. »
“You’re not just a person on the field, you’re a player. You’re not homeless, you’re not mentally ill, you don’t have a drug or alcohol addiction, you’re a footballer and I love it. »
Carlos Alberto Sanchez Gomez, Mexico
In particular, FIFA helped with the Homeless World Cup by broadcasting all matches on FIFA+, FIFA’s streaming service, allowing people around the world to follow the matches while discovering the players’ stories.
Players like Mexico’s Carlos Alberto Sanchez Gomez never imagined he would be broadcast live by FIFA, allowing friends and family to follow him, but also inspiring people around the world.
“It’s really incredible, because you never imagine that this could happen. Football is my life. It was my escape from addiction,” Gomez said. “What’s better than representing my country? It completely changes my life and it motivates you to continue to be an example – so that young people look up to you and want to be like you. Being here has changed my life. »
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