All Systems Go For the Game with DRIBL
Michael Puntillo from Dribl in the thick of the action out at the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup Image: Anita Milas
While the players perspire on the pitches, a quartet of web wizards are breaking sweat in a room nearby, making sure that every fact and figure of these fixtures is beamed across the globe, enabling families, friends and fans to keep up with the action.
Meet the DRIBL massive.
Founded in 2016 by a group of footballers, football administrators and enthusiasts - who also happened to be technology specialists - DRIBL was their response to the lack of tech development within football and the idea that it deserved better.
Oscar (Left) and Michael (Right) updating scores on Dribl’s system in Oslo
Corralling our group in Oslo is DRIBL’s Michael Puntillo who explains: “The computer management software that we’ve developed is unique in that it covers all things football. Other systems isolate parts of the game but we cover many more aspects.
“Data from team lists, score sheets and other sources is fed into our system to create these public match centres showing the fixture score, who refereed, the teams’ next games, player names and images.
“We collect all the data we can during the match, so the sky’s the limit on what we can create - next year we’re hoping to include information on each goal scorer. If the players had chips in their boots, for example, or refs were speaking into smart watches we could tap into that information, too.
“What we’re trying to do is bring the stats that pro teams have into grassroots football - even to the point where a weekend footballer can compare their stats with Lionel Messi.”
Support analyst, humanitarian graduate and footie fan Michael first became aware of Homeless World Cup when a colleague saw Netflix blockbuster, The Beautiful Game and the DRIBL team supported the Seoul tournament remotely from their HQ in Australia. Being on site this time has really underlined the magic of the event for him.
“I’m amazed at the high energy all around and to see how much work goes into the tournament on the ground. It makes your soul feel great. We want to do all we can to support the Homeless World Cup - it’s technology for good.”
Sitting next to Michael, inputting info at a rate of knots, is Oscar Castillo, an international volunteer from Mexico whose first taste of the event was also through the Bill Nighy movie. As a childhood friend of Homeless World Cup Foundation staff member Moni Ibarra, a football fan and with a technology background, she soon encouraged him in to helping the tech team in Oslo.
“It’s my first experience with this software but it’s pretty easy to use,” he says. “I’m loving being at the tournament, but I am getting a little bit distracted - I keep wanting to head out to the pitches and watch Mexico. I’d love to come back and have already asked to be invited next year!”
Belgium is also represented on the tech team, by volunteer Mathieu Melis, whose attention was also grabbed by watching The Beautiful Game.
“I had some free time and contacted Homeless World Cup offering to help,” he explains. “I just wanted to support in any role I could but this is a plus as it enriches my tech knowledge.
“I’ve played football all my life, though just Sunday league level,” he adds, “and it’s been fun to get so involved with the matches here. I’m a big fan of the South African team - they bring so much energy, they’re fun and though they want to win, it’s not at all costs.”
The Dribl dream team: Lewis McKinlay (HWC volunteer), Mathieu Melis (HWC volunteer), Michael Puntillo (DRIBL) and Oscar Castillo (HWC volunteer)
Completing the quartet is Glaswegian Lewis McKinlay who, when not volunteering for the tech team works in digital marketing in London.
“One of our clients who has a link to the tournament reached out to my boss to see if anyone was interested in helping out here, and I put my hand up,” he explains. “A lot of credit goes to my bosses at Scarecrow Digital for covering my expenses to come to Oslo, too.
“I’m a massive football fan and have been keeping an eye on Homeless World Cup since the event came to Glasgow in 2016 - and I’ve also seen The Beautiful Game- so I was really happy to get involved. Obviously, I’m backing Scotland but I like the look of Egypt - they have skills on the pitch and have great support.”
And thanks from all of us to all four of you, for your skills and support in sharing the excitement, through the match facts and figures – as the DRIBL legend says, it’s all For The Game!
Written by Isobel Irvine, Photos by Anita Milas