Day 2: Close calls in the Sunday sun at the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup
Sunday 24th August 2025
Think of Bulgarian footballing heroes and it’s likely names like Stoichkov and Letchkov will trip off the tongue.
While those stars etched their names in history at the FIFA World Cup USA 1994, their compatriots at the 20th Homeless World Cup in Oslo are aiming to write a new story.
The 500 players congregating around the specially built pitches on the city’s fjord-front Rådhusplassen all have a back story that brought them to the big event.
This Bulgarian team is no different: four of the squad of eight are Ukrainian refugees, the other half hailing from Romani neighbourhoods in Bulgaria.
Despite having less than three weeks to train together, it’s working so far for the Lions: wins against Argentina and Denmark seeing them sitting pretty in Group G. Manager Viktor Kirkov is targeting first place ahead of the next round after tomorrow’s fixtures against first timers Burkina Faso and the 2023 hosts United States.
At the Homeless World Cup, it’s not all about topping the group and winning the cup. For the Greek women’s team, picking up the tournament’s inaugural FIFPRO Award for Fair Play felt like the ultimate goal. This daily award is awarded by the referee team, and the girls from Greece saw their compassion during an opening tie with Zimbabwe rewarded with a spot on the stage in the Sunday sunshine in Oslo.
In the women’s tournament, Group A saw a tight match as unbeaten Wales got the odd goal in nine against India, and Austria nudged past Tanzania on pens. Ivory Coast, USA, Romania, Poland, Greece, Mexico, Kenya, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Ireland and Austria all go back to the players’ hotel with wins in their back pockets.
In the men’s tournament, Group H was the place for close ties as Kyrgyz Republic edged past Austria 5-4 and Indonesia snuck by Bosnia & Herzegovina 6-5, while in Group C, Ireland needed penalties to get past Finland. The teams from Brazil, Norway, South Africa, Poland, Chile, England, Finland, Ireland, Costa Rica, Mexico, Italy, Northern Ireland, India, Lithuania, Scotland, Denmark, USA and Bulgaria all picked up wins throughout the day’s play.
But each of the 63 teams in Oslo have already won; representing their nation is a springboard to a brighter future regardless of the scoreboard.
Words by Dan Tyte | Photos by John Anderson & Anita Milas