Then & Now
The Homeless World Cup first attracted global attention in 2003 as 18 nations participated in its inaugural annual tournament in Graz.
Homeless players who were invisible on the streets suddenly became heroes on the pitch, where they represented their country, stood proud and changed their lives.
Since Graz 2003, this flagship event has grown in terms of scale, impact and geographical reach. Host cities to date include Gothenburg, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Cape Town, Melbourne, Milan and Rio de Janeiro and Paris. Next year the 10th edition of the Homeless World Cup annual tournament will take place in Mexico City followed by Poznan, Poland in 2013.
Along with the growth of its annual tournament, the Homeless World Cup is rapidly establishing itself as a global leading social enterprise with unprecedented impact. Research consistently indicates over 70% of players engaged changed their lives by beating addictions, moving into jobs, homes, training, education and repairing relationships; become social entrepreneurs, coaches and players.
Moreover, with the support of its Global Changer Makers, which include UEFA, Nike and Telmex, the Homeless World Cup has touched the lives of over 200,000 homeless people since inception and created three legacy enterprises, operating in the sports equipment and recycling sectors.