Copenhagen 2007

Player Impact

6 months after the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup research conducted reports:

• 93% have a new motivation for life (354players)
• 83% have improved social relations (316 players)
• 71% have significantly changed their life (271 players)
• 29% found employment (110 players)
• 38% improved their housing situation (145 players)
• 32% went into education (122 players)
• 118 players addressed a drug or alcohol dependency
• 71% now play football on a regular basis (271 players)
• 18 women participated (up from 5 in Edinburgh 2005)

Grass Roots Impact

There are now grass roots football programs in over 60 nations, rising from 3 in Graz 2003 as a result.

• 34 nations are running a national street league, rising from 5 set up after Graz 2003
• 48 nations held national qualifications or selections for the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup, rising from 5 in 2003
• The network of grass roots football programmes now connected into the Homeless World Cup has extended to 60 nations for future tournaments

Changing Hearts and Minds

To date the Homeless World Cup has been a very successful means to raise awareness of homeless issues and improve the image of homeless people in the general public.

Media coverage around the whole event was excellent with people who are homeless portrayed in a positive light. CNN ran a Public Sector Announcement two weeks before and during the tournament to the value of $600,000, which was also supported by MTV in Copenhagen to the value of $150,000. 

Interest in attending the tournament in Copenhagen was great. Approximately 100,000 people watched the Homeless World Cup in the Town Hall Square throughout the week. 

From 160 spectators surveyed before watching a game at the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup 20% admitted a negative perception of homeless people, 21% stated no opinion and 58% claimed a positive view.  After watching a game their views had shifted significantly with 85% claiming a positive perception, 12% had no opinion and only 1% shared a negative view.

Government and public opinion in Copenhagen declared the tournament a resounding success.