Why Football
It all starts with a ball...
The Homeless World Cup Foundation uses the power of football to attract homeless people and offer them the chance to change their lives.
Homelessness can force people into isolation, which affects their ability to share, communicate their thoughts and work with others. Day-to-day survival needs take priority over longer term planning - often resulting in a chaotic lifestyle.
When a homeless person gets involved in football they communicate and build relationships with others; they become teammates, learning to trust and share; they have a responsibility to attend training sessions and games, to be on time and prepared to participate. They feel part of something.
These skills and attributes are all transferable to daily life and therefore help a homeless person see that they can change their lives.
Our National Partners provide, or provide access to, the professional services needed - educational, employment, health or legal advice. National Partners also run tournaments and trials to select the 8 players who make the journey to the annual tournament each year, and support them in making the most of this experience on their return afterwards... moving on in their lives and becoming the models and ambassadors for other homeless people in their countries.
Whilst the national teams are important and go on to have a life changing experience at the tournament, they are however the tip of the iceberg and represent only a small proportion of the people positively impacted by our work.