Day 3: ‘Strange little ball’ brings hope and resolves to end homelessness at Oslo 2025
Monday 25th August 2025
Alongside the high energy action on the pitches of the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup, the more serene surroundings of the Nobel Peace Centre provided a platform for action today as the third Cities Ending Homelessness Forum officially kicked off.
In the competition, things really heated up as nations played hard- and fair- as the first group stage came to a close.
Mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindboe at the Cities Ending Homelessness Forum
Those 500 players were in a passionate pursuit of a ‘strange little ball’ as Mayor of Oslo, Anne Lindboe, playfully called it in the Nobel Peace Centre’s Nelson Mandela room, lauding the tournament her city is hosting so well as ‘not hiding what is difficult’ as it works to create a brighter future.
Back on the Rådhusplassen pitches, the Egyptian number four has become one of the most talked about players in these opening days, his close control likened to a DJ scratching a record as he shapeshifts his way towards goal. He played a huge part in one of the games of the day, driving his teammates to a last gasp equaliser against champions Mexico.
The Mexican keeper came out on top in the subsequent penalty shoot out, but the North Africans left with pride and plaudits- and know they’ll have a chance at the biggest prize as the days tick towards Saturday’s final.
Two decades since sending the first Norwegian team to a Homeless World Cup, local organisers the Salvation Army curated the sessions at the Cities Ending Homelessness Forum. Mel Young, the architect of the tournament the Norwegians first played in back in Edinburgh in 2005- and Homeless World Cup President- talked about his thinking in creating the Forum back in Sacramento 2023; a means to bring cities, academics, public sector, universities together to create a “compendium of ideas” to discuss the end of homelessness.
Netherlands’ player Maikel de Groot with Mexican Team
While some teams chase the championship, Netherlands has already picked up the prize that matters, according to player Maikel de Groot. The Oranje were awarded the day’s FIFPRO Award for the good spirit they’ve showed throughout the opening days- a spirit that was particularly evident in a gallant showing against women’s champions Mexico in which they managed to score five times.
In the women’s competition, Ivory Coast, Poland, Mexico and Uganda topped their groups with runner-ups Wales, Romania, Kenya and Egypt and third places India, Denmark, Greece, Austria going into the second stage section A for the top trophies.
The top three in each group in the men’s competition made it through to play for the Homeless World Cup: from Group A, winners last time out in Oslo 2017, Brazil topped the group, with South Africa and hosts Norway joining them through; from Group B, last year’s finalists England, Poland and 2023 winners Chile: from Group C, Portugal, Ireland and Finland; from Group D champions Mexico, Egypt and Costa Rica; from Group E Northern Ireland, Italy and Hungary; from Group F twice winners Scotland, Lithuania and India; from Group G Bulgaria, Denmark and 2023 hosts USA and from Group H Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kyrgyz Republic and Indonesia.
It’s all to play for at the Homeless World Cup.
Words by Dan Tyte | Photos by John Anderson